TOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said today that Myanmar had inspected a North Korean ship in one of its ports and found no suspicious goods on board.
Japan's NHK television had said earlier that both Japan and the United States had asked Myanmar's government to search the ship, which US authorities had tracked after it left North Korea last month, because it might be carrying military goods prohibited under a UN resolution.
''I'm aware that Myanmar's government conducted inspections and did not find anything suspicious,'' Aso told reporters.
A UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea after its Oct. 9 nuclear test calls on UN members to take steps, including ''as necessary'' the inspection of cargoes to and from North Korea to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
Japan's Mainichi newspaper reported that Japan, the United States and Australia have decided not to carry out inspections on the high seas for now, due to a reluctance on the part of China and Russia, who worry such action would escalate tensions.
Officials from the three countries decided at talks in Tokyo on Monday to limit the searches to ships docked at their ports and to step up surveillance of cargo vessels travelling to and from North Korea, the newspaper said.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki confirmed the three-way talks had taken place but declined to elaborate on the details of the discussions.
REUTERD BDP VC1010
Japan's NHK television had said earlier that both Japan and the United States had asked Myanmar's government to search the ship, which US authorities had tracked after it left North Korea last month, because it might be carrying military goods prohibited under a UN resolution.
''I'm aware that Myanmar's government conducted inspections and did not find anything suspicious,'' Aso told reporters.
A UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea after its Oct. 9 nuclear test calls on UN members to take steps, including ''as necessary'' the inspection of cargoes to and from North Korea to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
Japan's Mainichi newspaper reported that Japan, the United States and Australia have decided not to carry out inspections on the high seas for now, due to a reluctance on the part of China and Russia, who worry such action would escalate tensions.
Officials from the three countries decided at talks in Tokyo on Monday to limit the searches to ships docked at their ports and to step up surveillance of cargo vessels travelling to and from North Korea, the newspaper said.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki confirmed the three-way talks had taken place but declined to elaborate on the details of the discussions.
REUTERD BDP VC1010
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