Australia Steps Towards Stopping North Korean Ships

An international military force will soon begin intercepting ships transporting North Korean nuclear materials and missiles to other countries. Following the Proliferation Security Initiative's Brisbane meeting this week, Australia, the United States, and nine other nations announced that they will begin military exercises as early as September. The plan serves as the most aggressive joint effort to date against the fledgling nuclear power and arrives as South Korean intelligence officials release new information about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Despite North Korean warnings about the "black clouds of nuclear war" against any attempt at a blockade, the allies have vowed to "move quickly on direct, practical measures to impede the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction" and will be recruiting other nations to join the initiative. At least for Australia, the interest in forming an international coalition around this initiative does not mean it would be seeking endorsement from the United Nations. Pursuing such approval, however, does remains an option. – YaleGlobal