N. Korea-Bound Ship With 'Military Cargo' Detained By Panama 105
HonorPoncaCityDotCom writes "BBC reports that a North Korean-flagged ship carrying suspected 'sophisticated missile equipment' bound from Cuba to North Korea has been stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal. President Ricardo Martinelli said the authorities were checking the ship for drugs when they found the suspected weapons in containers of brown sugar. Experts believe the communist state is working towards developing a nuclear warhead small enough to put on a long-range missile. Under UN sanctions, North Korea is banned from weapons exports and the import of all but small arms. The 35-member crew have been detained, including the captain who the Panamanian president said tried to kill himself during the search. Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said the ship 'aroused suspicion by the violent reaction of the captain and the crew.' Martinelli also published a photograph that appeared to show two large green containers, adding that the arms shipment had been uncovered 'in containers underneath a cargo of sugar.'" Also at the New York Times.
As it turns out... (Score:5, Informative)
The sugar was both the cover and the sophisticated missile technology [wikipedia.org]...
Crafty, crafty.
Re:Blowing up like ... (Score:2, Informative)
i found it more interesting that somehow panama has a say in if cuba wants to ship "drugs"(what panama defines as drugs) to north korea. since that's what they boarded the ship for, supposedly.
(imho cuba and north korea should be able to trade whatever the fuck they want.. sure, more countries might embargo cuba for that but still, it's their choice)
My my how naive you are.
The Panama Canal is for all pratical purposes american territory. There is your answer.
Re:Blowing up like ... (Score:5, Informative)
The canal has been under the control of the Panamanian government since 1999.
Re:Cuban Missile crisis (Score:5, Informative)
In the Cuban missile crisis Russia was delivering missiles TO Cuba. In this case the missiles were being sent to NK FROM Cuba.
Re:Cuban Missile crisis (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Cuban Missile crisis (Score:5, Informative)
these were missiles being laundered from Russia to NK through Cuba
North Korea and Russia share a border. There's no reason for them to attempt what you're suggesting.
Re:What about the clever ships? (Score:4, Informative)
How close NK is to having a working nuke?
North Korea has and has tested multiple nuclear weapons [wikipedia.org].
Re:What is that thing? (Score:4, Informative)
Wisecracks aside, has anyone seen any discussion about what the thing they confiscated is?
It's part of the supporting structure of a Fan Song fire-control radar. Of which NK has lots already.