SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen said on Wednesday Scud missiles found on a North Korean ship were destined for its army, and issued formal protests over the vessel's seizure to the United States and Spain, the official news agency Saba said.
"The shipment is part of contracts signed some time ago. It belongs to the Yemeni government and its army and meant for defensive purposes," Saba quoted Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi as saying. It said Qirbi summoned the U.S. ambassador to Sanaa to lodge a formal protest.
"The foreign minister stressed the importance of the return of the shipment to the Yemeni government," it said, adding that Sanaa has also protested to Spain, whose warships intercepted the North Korean vessel.