Canadian Navy ships to Northwest Pacific?

To help enforce the UN Security Council-mandated embargo on North Korea.

The United States wants the Canadian Navy's help patrolling the high seas and searching cargo vessels for illicit nuclear material going to or from North Korea.

In talks here this week, senior U.S. and Canadian officials discussed naval co-operation as part of the global effort to counter North Korea's nuclear program.

U.S. officials noted that Canada has more than a dozen modern frigates and other warships that could help track cargo vessels suspected of carrying illegal weapons.

Canadian officials say the government agrees in principle with the nuclear-policing project. But Ottawa is not yet ready to announce details of any deployment of ships...

The United States wants the Canadian Navy's help patrolling the high seas and searching cargo vessels for illicit nuclear material going to or from North Korea.

In talks here this week, senior U.S. and Canadian officials discussed naval co-operation as part of the global effort to counter North Korea's nuclear program.

U.S. officials noted that Canada has more than a dozen modern frigates and other warships that could help track cargo vessels suspected of carrying illegal weapons.

Canadian officials say the government agrees in principle with the nuclear-policing project. But Ottawa is not yet ready to announce details of any deployment of ships...

But no blockade is intended:

Ms. Silverberg [U.S. assistant secretary of state] stressed that the North Korean counterproliferation project "is not meant to be a blockade." A U.S. naval blockade of Cuba to keep Soviet missiles off the island brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in 1962.

Ms. Silverberg stressed that ships would not be searched at random, but only on the basis of reliable intelligence indicating a cargo of illegal weapons and material.

She called the searches "voluntary," although it is unclear what practical option a ship's captain might have if stopped for a search...

Update: South Korea won't intercept ships.

Upperdate: Would be a three-ship commitment:

The government would have to be certain it could keep warships at sea for extended periods if it joins U.S. naval patrols to intercept North Korean nuclear material, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said yesterday.

The cabinet has not yet formally received a U.S. request, but Mr. O'Connor said Canada would have to consider the issue of sustainability. A ship's crew usually is not expected to serve more than six months at sea, so replacement ships and crews have to be available.

Mr. O'Connor said it takes three separate crews and ships to sustain a mission that would see only one ship at sea at all times...

Uppestdate: Misleading Globe headline: "PM rules out navy ships to help U.S. over N. Korea". What the story actually reports:

The Canadian government has no plans to join the United States in naval operations to search ships suspected of transporting nuclear weapons material to or from North Korea...

When asked by reporters whether Canada might join the U.S. in intercepting and searching North Korean cargo vessels, both [Harper, MacKay] said there are no plans to do so.

"We have no plans to pursue that," Mr. Harper said.

"There has been no 'ask' from the United States or any of the allies" for Canadian navy ships, Mr. MacKay said...

Still some wiggle-room there, though I suspect this idea will sink quietly under the waves of likely domestic political problems.