Panama Seizes North Korea-Flagged Ship Carrying Missile Components

The captain of the North Korean ship Chong Chon Gang tried to kill himself as the vessel was searched, according to Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli. Courtesy IHS Maritime

Panama Seizes North Korea-Flagged Ship For Weapons -- New York Times

The Panamanian authorities have seized a North Korean-flagged ship traveling from Cuba through the Panama Canal that was carrying “undeclared military cargo,” and Panama’s president said late Monday that the cargo was presumably “sophisticated missile equipment.”

The president, Ricardo Martinelli said in a radio interview that the illegal cargo was found in two containers hidden behind a large shipment of sugar. In a Twitter posting he included a photo of what looked like a green tubular object in a container.

The United Nations has imposed broad sanctions on North Korea that seek to curtail its ability to export and import weaponry, particularly missile components and technology. Earlier this month, the United States blacklisted a general in Myanmar, Thein Htay, for buying military goods from North Korea.

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More News On Panama Seizing A North Korea-Flagged Ship Carrying Missile Components

North Korean ship with 'military cargo' held by Panama -- BBC
Panama's president tweets pictures of missiles found hidden in North Korean ship's sugar cargo after it sailed from Cuba -- Daily Mail
Panama claims to have grabbed N.Korean-flagged ship -- CBS/AP
Panama Detains North Korea-Flagged Ship -- Wall Street Journal
Panama seizes North Korean ship carrying missiles -- USA Today
Panama finds weapons hidden in North Korean ship arriving from Cuba -- CNN
Panama intercepts North Korean ship -- Deutsche Welle