S. Korea searched suspicious N.K. containers: sources

(ATTN: UPDATES with foreign minister's comments in paras 6-7 )
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confiscated and searched containers shipped
by North Korea on a Panama-registered freighter last month but reportedly found
no suspicious cargo, according to sources Monday.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) and relevant authorities on Sept. 22
ordered an inspection of the ship docked in the southeastern port of Busan and
searched the four containers, a government official said, requesting anonymity.
The official said authorities found some kind of protective clothing but did not
elaborate further.
A port official in Busan also confirmed that the NIS ordered the search, saying
it received tips that the containers could be carrying hazardous material. The
ship carrying the containers had arrived from China last month.
"Nothing particular was discovered from the search, but I'm aware that the
government is still in the process of confirming the results," the port official
said, refusing to elaborate.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told lawmakers later Monday that the customs
authorities had seized the containers and were searching them.
"The authorities are investigating the contents of the containers and their
possible link to North Korea," Yu was quoted as saying during a closed-door
parliamentary audit. "But (the government) can't provide details."
Observers speculate the search was conducted as part of Seoul's participation in
the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a U.S.-led counter-proliferation
campaign, as well as U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1874.
Seoul joined the PSI, which was launched in 2003 to stop the spread of weapons of
mass destruction, after North Korea conducted its second nuclear test in May this
year.
North Korea is known as an exporter of illicit weapons and is among the major
targets of the initiative.
UNSC Resolution 1874, adopted after North Korea's second nuclear test, calls for
an overall arms embargo on the communist country, as well as financial sanctions
and interdiction of cargo on the high seas to prevent the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, missiles and other weapons of mass destruction.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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