US tipped off Thais on N. Korea arms exports
Source: Agencies |
December 18, 2009, Friday
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THAI authorities were acting on a tip from the United States when they seized tons of illicit weapons from a plane from North Korea, a senior official said yesterday.
The Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane was impounded on Saturday in Bangkok during what officials said was a scheduled refueling stop. Thai authorities found a reported 35 tons of weaponry aboard it, all exported from North Korea in defiance of United Nations sanctions.
Speaking at a news conference, National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri confirmed reports there had been US assistance in the seizure, but gave no details.
He said that Thailand was waiting for advice from the UN on whether the weapons should be destroyed.
The UN sanctions - which ban North Korea from exporting any arms - were imposed in June after the country conducted a nuclear test and test-fired missiles. They are aimed at derailing North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but also ban it from selling any conventional arms.
Thawil revealed little else new at his news conference, which seemed aimed at quashing some rumors. He denied that Thailand would receive a reward or bounty for the seizure, or that it was pressured to act, saying it took action "as a member of the world community."
It is still not known where the weapons - said to include explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and components for surface-to-air missiles - were destined. The plane's papers, which described its cargo as oil-drilling machinery, said the shipment was to be delivered to Sri Lanka.
Arms trade experts have speculated that the cargo may have been destined for conflict zones in Africa, Iran or Myanmar.
The Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane was impounded on Saturday in Bangkok during what officials said was a scheduled refueling stop. Thai authorities found a reported 35 tons of weaponry aboard it, all exported from North Korea in defiance of United Nations sanctions.
Speaking at a news conference, National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri confirmed reports there had been US assistance in the seizure, but gave no details.
He said that Thailand was waiting for advice from the UN on whether the weapons should be destroyed.
The UN sanctions - which ban North Korea from exporting any arms - were imposed in June after the country conducted a nuclear test and test-fired missiles. They are aimed at derailing North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but also ban it from selling any conventional arms.
Thawil revealed little else new at his news conference, which seemed aimed at quashing some rumors. He denied that Thailand would receive a reward or bounty for the seizure, or that it was pressured to act, saying it took action "as a member of the world community."
It is still not known where the weapons - said to include explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and components for surface-to-air missiles - were destined. The plane's papers, which described its cargo as oil-drilling machinery, said the shipment was to be delivered to Sri Lanka.
Arms trade experts have speculated that the cargo may have been destined for conflict zones in Africa, Iran or Myanmar.
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