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N Korean ship seized with Cuban weapons returns to Cuba | N Korean ship seized with Cuban weapons returns to Cuba |
(6 months later) | |
The North Korean ship seized with undeclared Cuban weapons on board is returning to Cuba, says the Panamanian government. | The North Korean ship seized with undeclared Cuban weapons on board is returning to Cuba, says the Panamanian government. |
The Panama Canal Authority recently said the ship could leave, after Pyongyang paid a nearly $700,000 (£425,000) fine. | The Panama Canal Authority recently said the ship could leave, after Pyongyang paid a nearly $700,000 (£425,000) fine. |
The ship was seized seven months ago with Soviet-era weapons and fighter jets hidden under sacks of sugar. | The ship was seized seven months ago with Soviet-era weapons and fighter jets hidden under sacks of sugar. |
Three members of the crew stayed behind to face arms trafficking charges. | Three members of the crew stayed behind to face arms trafficking charges. |
The captain, the first officer and the political officer of the Chong Chon Gang face sentences of up to 12 years. | The captain, the first officer and the political officer of the Chong Chon Gang face sentences of up to 12 years. |
The other 32 crew members were released without charge. | The other 32 crew members were released without charge. |
Panama's Foreign Ministry said the ship set off on Saturday morning. | Panama's Foreign Ministry said the ship set off on Saturday morning. |
United Nations sanctions ban any country from providing arms to North Korea. | United Nations sanctions ban any country from providing arms to North Korea. |
Soviet jets | Soviet jets |
The container ship was stopped near Manzanillo, on the Atlantic side of the canal, on 15 July under suspicion that it was carrying drugs. | The container ship was stopped near Manzanillo, on the Atlantic side of the canal, on 15 July under suspicion that it was carrying drugs. |
It had disappeared from satellite tracking for a few days as it approached the Cuban capital, Havana, having departed from Russia's eastern coast three months earlier. | It had disappeared from satellite tracking for a few days as it approached the Cuban capital, Havana, having departed from Russia's eastern coast three months earlier. |
On searching the vessel, officials found military hardware including two Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter aircraft, air defence systems, missiles and command and control vehicles. | On searching the vessel, officials found military hardware including two Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter aircraft, air defence systems, missiles and command and control vehicles. |
Cuban authorities said that the ship was carrying 240 tonnes of "obsolete" defensive weapons. | Cuban authorities said that the ship was carrying 240 tonnes of "obsolete" defensive weapons. |
The North Korean government insisted the ageing weapons were simply being transferred to North Korea to be repaired, before returning them. | The North Korean government insisted the ageing weapons were simply being transferred to North Korea to be repaired, before returning them. |
Panamanian officials quoted by Reuters news agency said the arms would probably be sold or given away and the sugar sold to companies interested in turning it into ethanol. |
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