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North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama
(about 4 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 said the ship, held in the Panama Canal as it sailed from Cuba, contained suspected "sophisticated missile equipment". 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.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 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''Very worried'
The ship, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal. The ship, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal last week.
Mr Martinelli said the authorities were checking the ship for drugs when they found the suspected weapons in containers of brown sugar. 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.
"We're going to keep unloading the ship and figure out exactly what was inside," he told local media. 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.
A presidential spokesman said that only one of the ship's holds had so far been searched. Panama's Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino told the BBC that the ship - carrying 250,000 bags of sugar - was seized on 10 July after a tip-off that it was linked to drugs, but the "resistance and violence from the crew" delayed the search.
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." He said the suspected weaponry was found in two containers and did not rule out further "surprises" as the search of the ship continues.
The 35-member crew have been detained, including the captain. Panama would be seeking "friendly governments" with the "technology to look into it" to help identify the exact nature of the cargo, he said, adding that there was no contact with North Korea.
Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said the ship "aroused suspicion by the violent reaction of the captain and the crew". Earlier, President Martinelli told local 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."
Neither Cuba nor North Korea has yet commented on the incident.Neither Cuba nor North Korea has yet commented on the incident.
Missile programmeMissile programme
Under United Nations 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 UN 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.