Not long ago NorK denounced the 1953 Armistice that ended the Korean WAr. By doing so it put itself in a formal state of war with the USA, the Republic of Korea, and for that matter the UN. When at war a nation has the right to seize the ships of the hostile power. Given NorK’s own action a seizure of the ship by the USN would have been legal.
Li’l Kim is conducting a game of chicken with the rest of the world. When the thugs ruling NorK realize the place really is collapsing they will start a war to seize the wealth of ROK to keep themselves going a bit longer. If they have nukes and suitable missiles at that time it will start with nuke strikes on Guam, Okinawa, Oahu, and Japan, to cripple the immediate reinforcing capabilities of the US as ROK’s ally. If the NorK regime is not overthrown and replaced before then there will be a war.
