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Panama calls in UN to inspect North Korean arms ship Panama calls in UN to inspect North Korean arms ship
(about 2 hours later)
Panama said on Wednesday it had called in the United Nations security council to investigate a North Korean ship caught smuggling arms from Cuba, piling more pressure on Pyongyang for a possible breach of UN sanctions.Panama said on Wednesday it had called in the United Nations security council to investigate a North Korean ship caught smuggling arms from Cuba, piling more pressure on Pyongyang for a possible breach of UN sanctions.
Panamanian security minister Jose Raul Mulino said his government had asked the United Nations to advise on the case and that Panama aimed to hand over the ship, the Chong Chon Gang, and its contents to UN representatives.Panamanian security minister Jose Raul Mulino said his government had asked the United Nations to advise on the case and that Panama aimed to hand over the ship, the Chong Chon Gang, and its contents to UN representatives.
"It's going to be transferred to the UN security council, they will decide what to do," Mulino said in Panama City."It's going to be transferred to the UN security council, they will decide what to do," Mulino said in Panama City.
Panama stopped the ship last week and seized the cargo after a stand-off with the North Korean crew in which the captain tried to slit his own throat. Authorities discovered missile equipment and arms on board that Cuba said were "obsolete" Soviet-era weapons being sent to North Korea for repair.Panama stopped the ship last week and seized the cargo after a stand-off with the North Korean crew in which the captain tried to slit his own throat. Authorities discovered missile equipment and arms on board that Cuba said were "obsolete" Soviet-era weapons being sent to North Korea for repair.
The North Korean government urged Panama to release the ship and its 35-strong crew, who were detained for questioning.
"This cargo is nothing but aging weapons which are to send back to Cuba after overhauling them according to a legitimate contract," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official KCNA news agency.
Panama said it had issued North Korea with two diplomatic visas via its embassy in Cuba in a bid to have officials shed more light on the matter. "We have given our consent so they can come and give explanations or inspect their ship," foreign minister Fernando Nunez said in a statement.
The incident did not derail US-Cuban talks on migration, but US officials said Washington would raise the issue of the ship with Cuba very soon. One senior US politician called the matter a "grave violation of international treaties".The incident did not derail US-Cuban talks on migration, but US officials said Washington would raise the issue of the ship with Cuba very soon. One senior US politician called the matter a "grave violation of international treaties".
The United Nations has imposed various sanctions on Pyongyang, including strict regulations on arms shipments, for flouting measures aimed at curbing its nuclear weapons program.The United Nations has imposed various sanctions on Pyongyang, including strict regulations on arms shipments, for flouting measures aimed at curbing its nuclear weapons program.
About 350 police and border patrol officials were combing through the ship in Panama. Mulino said two more containers with suspected arms had been found in addition to the two already discovered. He added that Panama had not spoken to North Korea. About 350 police and border patrol officials were combing through the ship in Panama. Mulino said two more containers with suspected arms had been found in addition to the two already discovered.
"We have no relationship with them," he said. Before their arrest, the ship's crew burned the electrical system to disable it, which had slowed the process of unloading the vessel, the Panamanian foreign ministry spokesman said.
As a result, it could take 10 days to unload the ship, he added. The vessel has four storage areas, each with six containers, and so far only one storage area had been opened and a single container unloaded, government officials said.
"This ship was loaded so you can't unload it," Mulino tweeted.
Panama had not spoken to North Korea, he said. "We have no relationship with them."
Earlier on Wednesday, Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, said the ship appeared to have violated a UN arms embargo on North Korea. Britain is a permanent member of the UN security council.Earlier on Wednesday, Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, said the ship appeared to have violated a UN arms embargo on North Korea. Britain is a permanent member of the UN security council.
There is an eight-member panel of experts appointed by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to monitor the security council sanctions imposed on North Korea.There is an eight-member panel of experts appointed by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to monitor the security council sanctions imposed on North Korea.
The experts are mandated to "gather, examine and analyse information from states, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties" on allegations of sanctions violations and report back to the 15-member security council.The experts are mandated to "gather, examine and analyse information from states, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties" on allegations of sanctions violations and report back to the 15-member security council.
Panama had asked the United States for technical assistance on the matter, which would be provided, said Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the US state department. She added that Washington would be talking to Cuba "very soon" about the ship.Panama had asked the United States for technical assistance on the matter, which would be provided, said Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the US state department. She added that Washington would be talking to Cuba "very soon" about the ship.
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