The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
July 18, 2013

Panama Calls in U.N. Security Council over Seized North Korean Ship From Cuba 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
Panama has asked the U.N. Security Council for assistance after
intercepting a North Korean ship carrying military supplies from Cuba.
Panama seized the vessel last week after a standoff with its crew. The
ship was reportedly carrying missile equipment and other weaponry that
Cuba has described as "obsolete" and being sent to North Korea for
repair. Panamanian Security Minister José Raúl Mulino said the cargo
will be handed over to the United Nations.

Panamanian Security Minister José Raúl Mulino: "We are expecting the
representative of the Security Council of the United Nations, that are
invited to Panama by a request of the president and the minister of
foreign affairs — our ambassador in the U.N. already sent the
invitation — to evaluate and determine what this is all about, in
terms of the several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council
issued on the North Korea matter."

The ship's crew is facing charges for transporting dangerous cargo. U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says U.N. officials will look into whether
the shipment violates international sanctions on the North Korean
regime. A list provided by Cuba shows the weaponry dates back to the
Soviet era, bolstering its claim that the shipment was meant for
repairs.

 

.