It seems that the prolonged war of words between North Korea and the United States of America is fast escalating to become a powder keg ready to blow, with both sides slinging threats and trying to prove their capabilities, with the occasional show of force.

In a recent development, a U.S. Navy destroyer U.S.S John McCain is gearing up to intercept a North Korean flagged ship, Kang Nam, suspected of ferrying proliferated materials. This alleged act is in contradiction of a U.N. Security Council resolution that was unanimously passed last week. The North Korean ship is suspected of carrying missiles and nuclear weapons or technology for delivery to other rouge nations.

According to a military source at the Pentagon;

“Permission has not been requested. Nor is it clear it will be. This is a very delicate situation and no one is interested in precipitating a confrontation.”

The navy destroyer is on its way to the intercept point, but will not take any actions until authorized. Though, it will remain at a state of alert and readiness for the interception, as and when Kang Nam leaves the port, off the coast of China.

Kang Nam had left the North Korean port on Wednesday and has been under the watchful of eye of US intelligence agencies, ever since. As of now, the North Korean ship is under surveillance from the air.

However, North Korea had recently warned the United States and the United Nations, that any attempt to stop or board any of its vessels would be considered as an ‘act of war’ and would be met with “100- or 1,000 fold retaliation”.

As per the Unites Nations Resolution 1874, the United States cannot initiate a forced boarding of the intercepted vessel, instead it needs to seek permission from the captain of the vessel to board.

Via FOX News