Japan FM acknowledges US's tracking of DPRK ship

Japan's Foreign Minister has acknowledged reports that the US military has begun tracking a DPRK ship which left a DPRK port on Wednesday.

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2006 file photo, North Korean ship, the Kang Nam I, is anchored in Hong Kong waters. The U.S.  military is tracking the ship that may be carrying illicit weapons, the first vessel monitored under tougher new United Nations rules meant to rein in and punish the Stalinst state  after it conducted a nuclear test, officials said Thursday,  June 18, 2009.(AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

US officials say the ship, the Kang Nam, may be carrying illicit weapons. They say it's uncertain what the Kang Nam is carrying but it has been involved in weapons proliferation before. The Japanese Foreign Minister spoke to reporters at a news conference in Tokyo.

Hirofumi Nakasone, Japanese Foreign Minister said "It is a duty for all the UN members to fulfill the requirements of Security Council resolution on North Korea. Japan will deal with the situation in accordance with the resolution. We have close contact with US forces. But, I refrain from commenting as it is about classified information."