(VOVworld) – The Panamanian government has announced that a group of North Korean diplomats will travel to Panama from Cuba in the next few days to discuss issues related to the weapon ship. The Panamanian foreign ministry said that if Pyongyang can prove its legitimate ownership over the ship “Chong Chon Gang”, the ship and 33 sailors of the total of 35 people captured will be freed.
Ship Chong Chon Gang was seized on July 15. Photo: internet
|
These are people who have not been prosecuted for violating UN regulations on preventing direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms and materiel to North Korea, and related spare parts, except for small arms and light weapons. However, the ministry added that the final decision would be made by the country’s Prosecution agency, which operates independently from the Panamanian government.
The ship, Chong Chon Gang, was intercepted on July 15 in the Panama Canal with 25 containers of Cuban military equipment found beneath 10,000 tons of sugar. The equipment was not listed on the ship's manifest and included "obsolete defensive weapons" including two MiG-21 fighter jets and 15 motors, nine missiles in parts, and two anti-aircraft systems.