Panamanian authorities Saturday released the North Korean ship Chong Chon Gang, which was found transporting Cuban weapons illegally in July, according to dpa. The ship set course for Cuba with 32 crew members, departing from the Panamanian Caribbean city of Colon, the foreign ministry of Panama said. The ship was released after payment of a 690,000-dollar fine to the Panama Canal authority, ACP. Last month, Panamanian immigration authorities indicated they were keeping the ship's captain, the first mate and the political delegate in custody. There is evidence that they were aware of the illegal load, they said. The Chong Chon Gang was stopped in July as it entered the Panama Canal. Officials found 240 tonnes of undeclared weapons from Cuba, hidden under 10,000 tonnes of sugar. Delivering weapons to North Korea has been banned by a UN resolution. Panamanian authorities regarded the passage of the weapons through its territory as endangering public security.
