Kind of an interesting story: "Panama charges North Korea weapons ship's crew"

[geckosfeet]

Apparently Cuba is throwing some business to North Korea - or so they say. It is hard to understand how or why Cuba would contract a commercial ship to transport broken down weapons to North Korea for repair. I would expect it to be the other way around, or, Cuba is simply sending their obsolete equipment to an impoverished fourth world thuggish country. Or maybe some impoverished and starving N Korean sailors (hired by some government skunks trying to hide their tracks) trying to make a buck smuggling weapons.

In any case, I think it is an interesting story and exposes another piece of the (underground) illegal interstate and international (think US-Mexico) weapons trade.

Prosecutor Javier Caraballo accused the 35 crew members of endangering public security by illegally transporting war material.

....

"This cargo is nothing but ageing weapons which are to be sent back to Cuba after overhauling them according to a legitimate contract," the North's foreign ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run Central News Agency.

Cuba had earlier admitted being behind the stash of weapons found on board the ship. It said they were Soviet-era arms from Cuba headed for repair in North Korea.

The Cuban foreign ministry said the Chong Chon Gang was carrying 240 tonnes of "obsolete" defensive weapons - two anti-aircraft missile complexes, nine missiles in parts and spares, two MiG-21bis fighter planes and 15 MiG engines.

Panama charges North Korea weapons ship's crew

Other links about this story:

North Korea to Panama: Release our ship, crew (fat chance)

North Korea demands that Panama release its ship and 35 crew members who have been held since trying to transport missiles from Cuba

Panama calls in U.N. to inspect North Korean arms ship - Captain tries to off himself ?!