Cuba confirms arms bound for North Korea on ship seized in Panama

[Sandokan]

Cuba confirms arms bound for North Korea on ship seized in Panama
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/17/cuba-arms-north-korea-ship
Havana says missiles, jets and other weapons were being sent for repair as vessel is held over suspected UN sanctions breach
Agencies in Panama City and Havana
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 17 July 2013 22.01 EDT



Suspected weaponry found inside a Cuban-loaded ship seized in Panama en route to North Korea. Photograph: Rex Features/Zuma

Cuba has confirmed a North Korean cargo ship seized in Panama was carrying missiles, fighter jets and other armaments that were loaded in Cuban ports but claimed it was "obsolete defensive weaponry" being sent away for repair.

Fidel Castro in a video against the nuclear war on October 15, 2010, said: “Let us have the courage to proclaim that all nuclear or conventional weapons, everything that is used to make war, must disappear.”

The Castroit tyrannical regime is trading brown sugar weapons of destruction with the North Korean government, a state sponsor of terrorism. This is a perfect match and a very dangerous alliance for the rest of the world.

 

[Sandokan]

The island doesn’t build missile components, where did this cargo originate from? The captain of the Korean ship attempted suicide for being caught red handed shipping missiles, found after being hidden under sugar and supposedly for repair. Why were the Russians not asked to fix it? If the weapons were obsolete, why repair them? Because the regime story is a complete lie. How is possible that anyone could pay attention to what the Castroit regime says, when it distort the facts and twist the words.

 

[ecofarm]

Shouldn't we know, by now, exactly what was being shipped?

 

[Objective Voice]

I'm still trying to piece this all together. I mean, I'm glad Cuba discovered the illegal arms but what's their end-game? Why would they care about NKor shipping illegal weapons anywhere?

 

[Higgins86]

Shouldn't we know, by now, exactly what was being shipped?

Rusty russian ****

 

[ecofarm]

Rusty russian ****

That's what I'm expecting (Soviet). We'll see, when the info is released.

 

[tererun]

best episode of container wars ever.

 

[Thoreau72]

As all 3 branches of the US government violate the US Constitution on an almost daily basis, certainly what the US people should focus on is an ancient Russian missle in the hold of a NK ship in the Panama Canal, and of course, the imminent birth of some British Royalty.

 

[Hicup]

As all 3 branches of the US government violate the US Constitution on an almost daily basis, certainly what the US people should focus on is an ancient Russian missle in the hold of a NK ship in the Panama Canal, and of course, the imminent birth of some British Royalty.

"Ancient" Russian missiles could hit their intended targets. Unlike current NK missiles, Ancient Russian one's are better.


Tim-

 

[Cardinal]

Shouldn't we know, by now, exactly what was being shipped?

Latest is Migs, which got a small chuckle out of me. If you're going to field a functioning air force don't you need armies of trained trained support engineers, technicians and replacement parts?

 

[ecofarm]

Latest is Migs, which got a small chuckle out of me. If you're going to field a functioning air force don't you need armies of trained trained support engineers, technicians and replacement parts?

I suppose, from North Korea's perspective, this could have been hailed as "we have defeated the imperialists and managed to import advanced fighter jets and missiles!" as far as Not-so-lil' Kim's domestic press release would be concerned.

That's the only angle I see that makes sense. His generals think he can bring in equipment and his people think he can ignore sanctions.

 

[ecofarm]

As all 3 branches of the US government violate the US Constitution on an almost daily basis, certainly what the US people should focus on is an ancient Russian missle in the hold of a NK ship in the Panama Canal, and of course, the imminent birth of some British Royalty.

We can't all be conspiracy theorists. That takes a special something.

 

[Thoreau72]

We can't all be conspiracy theorists. That takes a special something.

Common sense, some measure of skepticism, and critical thinking skills is all it takes. Rather ordinary, really, and that's why most folks are very skeptical of the official government press releases regarding certain stories.

But an old Russian missle in the hold of a NK ship? WOW & Holy Cow! That is a mind bender for the average gullible soul.

 

[ecofarm]

Common sense, some measure of skepticism, and critical thinking skills is all it takes.

hahaha

 

[Sandokan]

Let's get this straight, Raul Castro the brother of Fidel was anointed “president” of Cuba, and the actual North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-Un the son of Kim Jong-il of North Korea. These two countries are a hereditary monarchy.

In early July a top North Korean general, Kim Kyok Sik, visited Cuba and met with his island counterparts. The Cuban Communist party newspaper Granma said he was also received by President Raul Castro and the two had an "exchange about the historical ties that unite the two nations and the common will to continue strengthening them". Of course, strengthening the historical ties by sharing weapons of war. Birds of a feather flock together.

 

[Thoreau72]

Let's get this straight, Raul Castro the brother of Fidel was anointed “president” of Cuba, and the actual North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-Un the son of Kim Jong-il of North Korea. These two countries are a hereditary monarchy.

In early July a top North Korean general, Kim Kyok Sik, visited Cuba and met with his island counterparts. The Cuban Communist party newspaper Granma said he was also received by President Raul Castro and the two had an "exchange about the historical ties that unite the two nations and the common will to continue strengthening them". Of course, strengthening the historical ties by sharing weapons of war. Birds of a feather flock together.

Yeah, kinda reminds me of how Dubya was annointed by Scalia et al, 2 terms after his illustrious father 'served' as Prez. And now some are yearning for brother Jeb.

Yes, rotten families practicing nepotism is very much a hallmark of the US system too. After Bill, sooner or later we'll get Hillary.

 

[American]

Common sense, some measure of skepticism, and critical thinking skills is all it takes. Rather ordinary, really, and that's why most folks are very skeptical of the official government press releases regarding certain stories.

But an old Russian missle in the hold of a NK ship? WOW & Holy Cow! That is a mind bender for the average gullible soul.

The real mindbender for most would be where is North Korea or where is Cuba?

 

[Sandokan]

It would be less difficult or controversial, to send technicians over there. Does the Castroit regime really need North Korea assistance to fix the missiles, fighting jets and other weapons? It is very common for these old Soviet weapons to be completely retrofitted with modern explosives and electronics. The North Korea tyrannical military regime is outwardly provocative and unreasonable. It would be the least place to send weapons for repaired.

 

[Sandokan]

Panama finds more containers of Cuban war materiel on North Korean ship
Panama finds more containers of Cuban war materiel on North Korean ship - Cuba - MiamiHerald.com

By Juan O. Tamayo
jtamayo@ElNuevoHerald.com
Posted 07/19/2013

President Ricardo Martinelli said more containers have been found aboard the Chong Chon Gang, a North Korean freighter impounded July 15 in the Panamanian port of Manzanillo after it arrived from Cuba and prepared to cross the Panama Canal and sail for home.

Port authorities said four new containers had been found, bringing the total to six, in two stacks of three. They were not declared in the ship’s manifest and were hidden under 220,000 sacks of Cuban brown sugar.

Panamanian police academy cadets offloading the sugar so far have opened only one of the freighter’s four cargo holds, and each hold has six separate sections, according to the port officials, who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.

The first two containers found were taken off the ship and stored next to each other in an open area under guard by heavily armed troops. A hand-written notice attached to one said they were seized for “commerce and contraband of weapons.”

No doubt they violated the laws of Panama that require ships to identify their cargo accurately to the Panamanian authorities to use the canal. Panama cannot allow such a violation of its national sovereignty and the Canal neutrality. The Panama Canal has been managed and operated since 1999 exclusively by the Panamanian with a great record of efficiency and competence as have been attested around the world.

 

[Sandokan]

The Castroit regime said that "The Republic of Cuba reiterates its firm and unwavering commitment with peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and respect for International Law" Of course the regime will conduct a full investigation about the missiles hidden under the sacks of brown sugar cargo in the ship. I am sure that their investigation would answer questions like, who ordered these missiles to be concealed on the ship? Why were the Russians not asked to fix it? If the weapons were obsolete, why was the reason to repair them?

Certainly the regime press will be reporting on the investigation, and some higher up in the military will be severely punished. Even Raul Castro could be implicated in the investigation. Not for a moment would this happen!

 

[Peter King]

sure, they will be sent back LOL.

If anyone believes that, I have some land to sell, it is some swampland in the Bayou perfect to build highrise blocks of flats on.

 

[Sandokan]

The United Nations has a tough problem to solve. In 2006 it imposed an arms embargo against North Korea, and this case has a great probability to be in violation of the embargo. If the UN try to impose sanctions for the violation of the arms embargo, and Russia, a member of the UN Security Council, vote again the sanctions, how then it will enforce its own rules? The North Korea regime will laugh at the sanctions and does as it please.

 

[Sandokan]

Who in the top leadership approved this high risk operation? What was Raul Castro involvement on it? Who did the dirty work? Eventually we will get answers to these questions. Lying about the shipping of weapons to a country banned from receiving it is subject to UN sanctions, since it is a violation of the UN Chapter. The regime tries to justify it invoking national security against external threats. There is no threat from the U.S. that could justify such an action. As a matter of fact they have schedule talks with regard to immigration policies.

 

[Sandokan]

A North Korean ship carrying Cuban weapons smells of scandal — and more
PANAMA CITY: A North Korean ship carrying Cuban weapons smells of scandal — and more - Americas - MiamiHerald.com

By Juan O. Tamayo
jtamayo@ElNuevoHerald.com
Posted on Monday 07/22/2013

PANAMA CITY -- The North Korean freighter is a three-decade-old rust bucket that literally stinks. It stinks of its crew’s sweat and urine, the greasy kitchen, the food left on the floor, the years of humidity and mold.

Even the photos of the country’s leaders hanging on the wall of the captain’s quarters are old — Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994, and his son Kim Jong-il, who died in 2011, but not his grandson and current ruler, Kim Jong-un.

“To call that thing filthy would be a compliment,” said Security Minister José Raúl Mulino, waving his left hand toward the ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the sprawling container port of Manzanillo on Panama’s Atlantic coast.

But the ship also smells of scandal, for it was carrying 240 tons of contraband Cuban weapons to North Korea, in apparent violation of a 7-year-old U.N. arms embargo on Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons and long-range missile development programs.

While the contraband might cool Obama administration efforts to warm up relations with Havana, the United Nations may spare Cuba any significant sanctions because the weapons aboard the freighter are not directly related to the core issues of a U.N. arms embargo against North Korea.

How come that and international incident of great magnitude isn’t mentioned on the Castroit regime news outlets? The Cuban people haven’t been informed of this grave situation involving the corrupt and international law braking regime. Look that is business as usual in the Castroit tyrannical military regime.

 

[Surtr]

Latest is Migs, which got a small chuckle out of me. If you're going to field a functioning air force don't you need armies of trained trained support engineers, technicians and replacement parts?

Not when it's being supplied to a paper tiger who has gone well beyond pathetic. I don't believe there's a word in the English language that can even come close to accurately describing how pitiful they are. They're just getting old garbage in the mail now, like "hang in there, buddy" but everyone knows it's over. I'd say North Korea is beating a dead horse, but it decomposed a long time ago, and they're just sitting around playing with the bones.