The Hindu : N. Korean ship carrying Scud missiles seized

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

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N. Korean ship carrying Scud missiles seized

MADRID Dec. 11. A North Korean ship carrying hidden Scud missiles and about 85 drums of chemicals was bound for a West Asian port when it was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by Spanish warships, Spain said today.

The Spanish Defence Minister, Federico Trillo, told a news conference that the ship, carrying 15 Scud missiles and around 85 drums of "undetermined chemical," was headed for an unidentified port in West Asia and was now under the control of the United States. ``There are no indications that can lead us to a firm conclusion on the destination of the ship,'' Mr. Trillo said. The So San was intercepted on Monday after the captain of the Spanish frigate, Navarra, ordered it to stop its engines. The Spanish ship fired warning shots when the San So refused to stop. The U.S. and the Spanish officials said the ship was carrying the missiles under bags of cement.

`Missiles bound for Yemen'

A report from Sanaa said that the Scud missiles were heading for Yemen. Quoting the official news agency, Saba, it said that Yemen issued formal protests over the vessel's seizure to the United States and Spain. ``The shipment is part of contracts signed some time ago. It belongs to the Yemeni government and its army and is meant for defensive purposes,'' the Yemeni Foreign Minister, Abubakr al-Qirbi, said.

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