The North Korean freighter Chong Chon Gang was stopped on July 10 on suspicion of carrying drugs as it tried to enter the Panama Canal. Panamanian authorities’ search uncovered 25 containers of Cuban military hardware, including two Soviet-era MiG-21 aircraft, air defense systems, missiles and command and control vehicles. More than 200,000 sacks of sugar concealed the weapons. Neither country has explained why the shipment was hidden if it was indeed legitimate.
After a reduction of the original $1 million penalty, Pyongyang paid $693,333.10, said canal administrator Jorge Quijano.
The ship is returning to Cuba, Quijano said. He said the fine had been reduced because North Korea accepted the Canal Authority’s statement saying they endangered the waterway, and gave false information about the shipment.
Panama’s government had asked the United Nations to send a mission to determine whether the shipment violated the UN arms embargo against North Korea.
Last month, Panamanian authorities released 32 of the 35 North Koreans detained since July. The remaining three North Koreans — the vessel’s captain, first officer and political secretary — face trial on arms trafficking charges.