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| China-Japan-Koreas | ||
| Thailand Seizes Planeload of Nork Weapons | ||
| 2009-12-14 | ||
A Georgian cargo aircraft from Pyongyang carrying 35 tons of North Korean-made missiles, explosives and other weapons was seized at Bangkok's Don Muang Airport on Saturday.
This was the first time an airplane carrying North Korean weapons has been caught since the UN Security Council adopted sanctions in June. The resolution bans all weapons exports from the country and most imports. The Thais seized the weapons under UNSC Resolution 1874 and will submit a report to the UN. The five crewmen will be arraigned on Monday. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said the cargo aircraft was originally supposed to be refueled in Sri Lanka and the crew are being questioned about its final destination. This incident is expected to damage North Korea's relations with the U.S. coming days after the visit of U.S. special representative for North Korea policy Stephen Bosworth to Pyongyang on Dec. 8. In late August, the U.A.E. seized North Korean weapons from a third ship heading for Iran. Right after UNSC Resolution 1874 came into effect, the Kangnam 1, a North Korean ship suspected of carrying illegal weapons, sailed toward Myanmar but was pursued by a U.S. ship and eventually turned back. | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 One interesting thing I noticed is speculation that the arms were destined for Sri Lanka or Pakistan. I don't believe it was destined to either location. I believe it was destined for Iran. The reason is that the manifest listed the shipment as "oil drilling equipment". That would lead one to believe that the destination was a place where it is not uncommon to ship oil drilling equipment. Oil drilling gear to Pakistan or Sri Lanka would raise eyebrows. Sri Lanka produces about 0 barrels/day. Pakistan produces less than 100K barrels/day (actually closer to half that amount). Neither place is the hotbed of oil exploration. I don't believe Sri Lanka or Pakistan was the destination of that plane. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2009-12-14 13:22 |
| #6 The fact that it was on a flight path from North Korea might have tipped them off. Or did it land somewhere in between? And where would that have been? |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-12-14 12:25 |
| #5 Who is providing the dueling comments about the "Georgians" in this story? As written, this seems nothing more than a slander - the only reference is to the aircraft, which hardly indicates any Georgian involvement, whether good or ill. Sounds like the reporter simply noted the registration records, which could indicate anything. Sort of like saying the US is responsible for any message sent via an iphone since that is an Apple product. The arraignment should be the most interesting and noteworthy part of this story so far - who is this crew and where are they from, and who is paying for their defense? |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-12-14 11:15 |
| #4 And it seems as though Obama is OK with China taking them over. |
| Posted by: gorb 2009-12-14 08:54 |
| #3 My already high regard for the Thais just went up yet another notch. |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2009-12-14 01:31 |
| #2 those talks have been going so well up until now too |
| Posted by: chris 2009-12-14 00:13 |
| #1 The US is now saying that this incident could endanger nukulaar talks wid NORTH KOREA??? Also, the personages seized wid the plane are repor from FORMER SOVIET SSRS [ read, MUSLIM], + were believed headed for Tribals in AFPAK??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-12-14 00:11 |