North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama

[Ace Gunner]

North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama

(see link for video -- can't embed)
Footage appears to show inside the seized ship




Panama's president says his country has seized a North Korean-flagged ship carrying "undeclared military cargo".

President Ricardo Martinelli said the ship, stopped in the Panama Canal as it sailed from Cuba, contained suspected "sophisticated missile equipment".

He posted a photo of what looked like a large green object inside a cargo container on his Twitter account.

The president said the 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself.

The US "commended" Panama for its actions, and said it strongly supported a full inspection of the ship.

'Very worried'
The ship, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal last week.


Chong Chon Gang's route

17 April: Departs port of Vostochnyy, Nakhodka in Russian Far East (200km east of North Korean border)
31 May: Arrives at Pacific side of Panama Canal
1 June: Passes through Panama Canal
11 July: Arrives back at Panamanian port of Manzanillo
12 July: Ship searched
16 July: Panama announces its discovery

It had left Russia's far east in April and travelled across the Pacific Ocean before entering the canal at the start of June, with Cuba as its stated destination.

The ship had crossed the Pacific without its automatic tracking system switched on - a move described by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner as highly suspicious.

Mr Martinelli said the authorities were checking the ship for drugs when they found the suspected weapons in containers of brown sugar.

"We're going to keep unloading the ship and figure out exactly what was inside," he told local media.

Mr Martinelli told RPC radio: "This material not being declared and Panama being a neutral country, a country in peace, that doesn't like war, we feel very worried about this war material and we don't know what else will have... passed through the Panama Canal."

The 35-member crew have been detained, including the captain.

Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said the ship "aroused suspicion by the violent reaction of the captain and the crew".

Neither Cuba nor North Korea has yet commented on the incident.

Missile programme
Under United Nations sanctions, North Korea is banned from weapons exports and the import of all but small arms.


The Chong Chon Gang was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal
Sanctions were strengthened after its third nuclear test on 12 February, including measures increasing states' authority to inspect suspicious cargo.

In recent years a number of North Korean ships have been searched under the UN sanctions.

In July 2009 a North Korean ship heading to Burma was tracked by the US Navy on suspicion of transporting weapons and subsequently turned around.

North Korea has an ongoing missile development programme.

In December it launched what it called a three-stage rocket to put a satellite into space. The move was condemned by the UN as a banned test of missile technology.

Experts believe the communist state is working towards developing a nuclear warhead small enough to put on a long-range missile.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23324170

[Ace Gunner]

I'm gonna guess discussions between NK & the motherland (china) discouraging military confrontations with the nations of the west were meaningless.

[Bwana]

Miiiiiiiiiiiiister Kim will not be pleased!

[Dunerdr]

I cant wait to see where this goes.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Miiiiiiiiiiiiister Kim will not be pleased!

everyone clap!!11!1

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

I cant wait to see where this goes.

I am a bit nervous about this since we can't even stop teens from abroad attacking america. I have business on the west coast with employees, plus my youngest daughter is in school there, so this bugs me a bit.

and the flip side thought of "bringing democracy" to yet another nation causes me to knash my teeth too. more welfare recipients to pamper.

[BucEyedPea]

This is disturbing news. Good for Panama though.

[Aries Walker]

I just hope the media can tear itself away from extended coverage of George Zimmerman to pay this at least a little attention.

[Hog Farmer]

Heh. They just said on the news that the ships captain tried to committ suicide after the inspection.

[ClevelandBronco]

Well, if that overfed **** doesn't kick Panama's ass now, that'll pretty much tell us all we need to know.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Heh. They just said on the news that the ships captain tried to committ suicide after the inspection.

He was probably going to be put to death when he got home anyway.

[pr_capone]

LOL... hiding it under bags of sugar doesn't work when trying to ship coke or pot either.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-23408356

Seized N Korean ship: Panama finds two MiG jet fuselages



Panamanian security forces searching a North Korean ship detained for illegally carrying weapons have found two military jet fuselages.

The ship was seized last week after police found undeclared military cargo hidden under bags of sugar in its hold.

Cuba said it had sent the weapons to North Korea for repairs.

Panama has asked the UN to investigate whether there has been a breach of the sanctions against North Korea, which ban the supply of arms to Pyongyang.
'Obsolete weapons'

Prosecutor Javier Caraballo said that "in the containers that we've opened up to now, we have found two fuselages of MiG-21 jets. We've also found some anti-aircraft radars, of the type to launch anti-aircraft weapons".

[Bowser]

What does this have to do with Trayvon Martin?

[Aries Walker]

How exactly would shipping arms to North Korea not be a violation of a sanction saying you can't ship arms to North Korea?

Put me in charge of that investigation. I'll have it concluded in seconds.

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by Aries Walker

How exactly would shipping arms to North Korea not be a violation of a sanction saying you can't ship arms to North Korea?

Put me in charge of that investigation. I'll have it concluded in seconds.

Wasn't this ship headed from NK to Russia & its final destination Cuba?