18/07/2013 12:54
North Korea urges Panama to release weapons ship
North Korea has urged Panama to release without delay its ship and crew, seized after weapons were found on board, BBC reported.
In its first comments on the case, the North Korean foreign ministry said the cargo of "ageing" Cuban arms was being sent for repairs and would be returned under a legitimate contract.
Panama earlier said the arms - hidden under a sugar cargo - were undeclared.
It also asked the UN to investigate whether there had been a breach of sanctions against North Korea.
The UN sanctions prohibit the supply of arms to Pyongyang in the dispute over its controversial nuclear programme.
"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.
"The Panamanian authorities should take a step to let the apprehended crewmen and ship leave without delay," it added.