This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23339020

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cuba says North Korean ship carried 'obsolete' weapons Seized N Korean ship: Cuba confirms its weapons on board
(35 minutes later)
A North Korean ship held in the Panama Canal on its way from Cuba was carrying obsolete arms for repair, the Cuban foreign ministry says. Cuba has admitted being behind a stash of weapons found on board a North Korean ship seized in the Panama Canal.
The ministry said the weapons, manufactured half-a-century ago, were to be returned to Cuba after being refurbished. The Cuban foreign ministry said the ship was carrying obsolete arms from Cuba for repair in North Korea.
The ship was seized by Panama after "undeclared military cargo" was found hidden in a shipment of sugar. The ship was seized by Panama last week after "undeclared military cargo" was found hidden in a shipment of sugar.
Panama's president said it included "sophisticated missile equipment". United Nations sanctions prohibit the supply of arms to North Korea in the continuing dispute over its nuclear programme.
However, a Cuban foreign ministry statement said Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to "peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and respect for international law".
It said the vessel was carrying 240 tonnes of obsolete defensive weapons - two anti-aircraft missile complexes, nine missiles in parts and spares, two MiG 21-Bis fighter planes and 15 MiG engines.
The Cuban statement said they were all made in the mid-20th Century and were to be repaired and returned to Cuba.
"The agreements subscribed by Cuba in this field are supported by the need to maintain our defensive capacity in order to preserve national sovereignty," the statement went on.
Cuba said the ship was mainly loaded with 10,000 tonnes of sugar.
Announcing the seizure of the vessel on Tuesday, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said it contained suspected "sophisticated missile equipment".
He posted a photo of what looked like a large green object inside a cargo container on his Twitter account.
The president said the 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself.
The US "commended" Panama for its actions, and said it strongly supported a full inspection of the ship.
The vessel, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal last week.
It had left Russia's far east in April and travelled across the Pacific Ocean before entering the canal at the start of June, with Cuba as its stated destination.
The Chong Chon Gang had crossed the Pacific without its automatic tracking system switched on - a move described by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner as highly suspicious.