US tipped off Thais on N. Korea arms exports
Source: Agencies |
December 18, 2009, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
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.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
