United Nations to inspect North Korean weapons ship
By Dialogo July 19, 2013
NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A. – United Nations sanctions experts will go to Panama soon to investigate a North Korean ship that was intercepted carrying weapons, officials said on July 18.
Numerous countries have said the discovery of the weapons on the Chong Chon Gang freighter probably is a breach of UN sanctions against North Korea.
North Korean and Cuba officials said the shipment consists only of obsolete missiles and other weapons parts from the mid-20th century being sent to North Korea for repairs.
The vessel set out from Cuba and was trying to enter the Panama Canal when it was stopped by a counter-narcotics patrol, which found the weapons concealed beneath several tons of sugar.
North Korea faces several rounds of sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, which is monitored by a UN Security Council committee currently chaired by Luxembourg.
“The United States commends the actions of Panama in bringing this swiftly to the committee,” Jeffrey Delaurentis, a deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters. “Efforts are ongoing to determine the contents of the vessel.”
[AFP (United States), 18/07/2013; La Prensa (Panama), 10/07/2013]
