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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'North Korean arms plane' seized | 'North Korean arms plane' seized |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Thailand has seized a cargo plane refuelling in Bangkok airport, which it says was carrying weapons from North Korea to an unknown destination. | Thailand has seized a cargo plane refuelling in Bangkok airport, which it says was carrying weapons from North Korea to an unknown destination. |
| The five crew members were also detained. | The five crew members were also detained. |
| Rocket-propelled grenades, missiles and other weapons were found aboard, military investigators said. | Rocket-propelled grenades, missiles and other weapons were found aboard, military investigators said. |
| It is believed that the plane had made an emergency request to refuel. It had taken off from the North Korean capital Pyongyang, the Thai Air Force said. | It is believed that the plane had made an emergency request to refuel. It had taken off from the North Korean capital Pyongyang, the Thai Air Force said. |
| According to local media reports, four members of the crew are from Kazakhstan, and one from Belarus. | According to local media reports, four members of the crew are from Kazakhstan, and one from Belarus. |
| Thai officials said they had acted on a tip-off from foreign intelligence, with one official telling Reuters news agency, on condition of anonymity, that the US had supplied the information. | Thai officials said they had acted on a tip-off from foreign intelligence, with one official telling Reuters news agency, on condition of anonymity, that the US had supplied the information. |
| "It [the plane] came from North Korea and was heading for somewhere in South Asia, probably Pakistan," the same official added. | "It [the plane] came from North Korea and was heading for somewhere in South Asia, probably Pakistan," the same official added. |
| Another unconfirmed report suggested Sri Lanka as the destination. | Another unconfirmed report suggested Sri Lanka as the destination. |
| Prize export | Prize export |
| Local media say about 40 tons of weaponry were found aboard the chartered plane, a Soviet-designed Il-76. | Local media say about 40 tons of weaponry were found aboard the chartered plane, a Soviet-designed Il-76. |
| The crew are said to have requested a translator from the Russian embassy | The crew are said to have requested a translator from the Russian embassy |
| The reported items have been moved to a Thai military facility. | The reported items have been moved to a Thai military facility. |
| Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaungsuban said the crew had declared the cargo as "oil drilling equipment", according to AFP news agency. | Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaungsuban said the crew had declared the cargo as "oil drilling equipment", according to AFP news agency. |
| "But when we examined, we found it was all weaponry," Mr Suthep, who is also in charge of national security, told reporters. | "But when we examined, we found it was all weaponry," Mr Suthep, who is also in charge of national security, told reporters. |
| "This case will proceed carefully as there are many parties involved... Everything must proceed transparently." | "This case will proceed carefully as there are many parties involved... Everything must proceed transparently." |
| The UN recently increased sanctions against North Korea in a bid to cut off its arms sales as punishment for a nuclear test in May. | The UN recently increased sanctions against North Korea in a bid to cut off its arms sales as punishment for a nuclear test in May. |
| Arms sales are a vital export item estimated to earn the destitute state more than $1bn (£615m) a year, analysts say. | |
| The North's biggest arm sales come from ballistic missiles, with Iran and other Middle Eastern states being customers, according to US government officials. | The North's biggest arm sales come from ballistic missiles, with Iran and other Middle Eastern states being customers, according to US government officials. |