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North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama
(about 7 hours later)
Panama's president says his country has seized a North Korean-flagged ship carrying "undeclared military cargo".Panama's president says his country has seized a North Korean-flagged ship carrying "undeclared military cargo".
President Ricardo Martinelli told local media that the ship, which was sailing from Cuba, contained suspected "sophisticated missile equipment". President Ricardo Martinelli said the ship, held 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.He posted a photo of what looked like a large green object inside a cargo container on his Twitter account.
He said the ship, which was searched on its way into the Panama Canal, was being held for further investigation. The president said the 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself.
The ship was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal. 'Very worried'
The ship, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal.
Mr Martinelli said the authorities were checking the ship for drugs when they found the suspected weapons in containers of brown sugar.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."We're going to keep unloading the ship and figure out exactly what was inside," he told local media.
The 35-member crew have been detained, including the captain who the Panamanian president said tried to kill himself during the search. A presidential spokesman said that only one of the ship's holds had so far been searched.
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".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 programmeMissile programme
Under UN sanctions, North Korea is banned from weapons exports and the import of all but small arms. Under United Nations sanctions, North Korea is banned from weapons exports and the import of all but small arms.
Sanctions were strengthened after its third nuclear test on 12 February, including measures increasing states' authority to inspect suspicious cargo.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 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. 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.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 United Nations as a banned test of missile technology. 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.Experts believe the communist state is working towards developing a nuclear warhead small enough to put on a long-range missile.