Posted on 07/20/2013 8:09:43 AM PDT by darkwing104
Western Hemisphere Threat
This week Panama seized a North Korean cargo ship that was on its way back home from Cuba. Panamanian authorities were tracking the cargo vessel as it entered the Panama Canal as they believed the ship was carrying drugs. The ship was stopped and searched. The crew resisted the boarding for inspection as it turns out they really did have something to hide. After subduing the ship’s crew the Panamanians didn’t find drugs but instead turned up undeclared weapons in violation of UN sanctions regarding the North Korean Nuclear program.
Denial
In a display of sheer chutzpah the North Korean regime demanded the release of the ship and crew because Panamanian officials hadn’t found any drugs. North Korea has a long history of smuggling drugs and has been caught many times, the money from the drug shipments having been used to prop up the hermit nation. On this occasion, the North Korean government didn’t want to acknowledge the weapon systems they most likely agreed to overhaul in exchange for food. They were smuggling the weapons to evade sanctions placed on the rouge nation thanks to its nuclear tests.
(Excerpt) Read more at coachisright.com ...
Sum Ting Wong.
rouge = Red Korea?
5.56mm
Much more likely is that the Cubans sold their old junk to North Korea and is using the “repair” excuse to provide a little implausible deniability and to retain legal ownership until actually unloaded in NK.
Ding Bang Ow
must be for resale since they don't need them on the island itself...
Not so much. The SA-2 SAM System is obsolete. The North Koreans have a few SA-2s, but their main SAM systems are the SA-6 and SA-8 along with SA-14, SA-16, and SA-18 MANPADS Systems. North Korea has no need for SAM components from Cuba. They do need Cuba’s sugar.
What did those ships have on board arriving from N.K.? The junk found on board is useful as a distraction. What are N.K. current equipment capabilities? Are any players from Cuban associates involved in a triple play?
good question
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