The U.S. military has been using air and naval assets to track a North Korean ship that may be carrying illicit weapons or technology, U.S. officials told CNN Friday.
The USS John McCain, a destroyer, was positioning near the North Korean-flagged Kang Nam. In addition, the U.S. government was watching the ship using aircraft, including the Navy's P-3 plane, which can take photos and record the location of the Kang Nam, sources said.
The Kang Nam left North Korea on Wednesday and was heading south in the Yellow Sea along the Chinese coast, according to the sources.
While U.S. officials do not know what is on the ship, the Kang Nam is a "repeat offender," known for having carried "proliferation materials" in the past, a senior defense official said.