Yemen claims missiles on North Korean ship belong to it, Al-Jazeera reports

Associated Press ^ | 12-11-02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Interception of missile-laden ship raises troublesome military and terrorism issues -AP Breaking News
MATT KELLEY, Associated Press Writer
(12-11) 05:33 PST WASHINGTON (AP) -- The interception of an apparent North Korean missile shipment in the Arabian Sea threw yet another troublesome element into the delicate military and diplomatic drive against terrorism and the spr...

[snip]

[Oldeconomybuyer]

05:42 PST (AP) -- Al-Jazeera added that Yemeni officials said they wanted the equipment delivered. The brief report gave no other details.

The apparent North Korean missile shipment was stopped in the Arabian Sea by Spanish warships Monday. The vessel was sailing without a flag designating its country of origin but with what appeared to be a North Korean crew. The Spanish navy was participating in the U.S.-led anti-terrorism operation in the region.

U.S. authorities who had been monitoring the ship boarded after it was halted about 600 miles off the Horn of Africa.

[txrangerette]

Yemeni government? Scuds? Why?

[Catspaw]

Then Yemen has the paperwork for the purchase and the ship would've been carrying bills of lading & everything would've been open and transparent. Why the need to hide the SCUDS behind/in cement?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Yemen demands return of Scuds

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen says Scud missiles found on a North Korean ship were destined for its army and has issued formal protests over the vessel's seizure to the United States and Spain, the official news agency Saba has reported.

"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 on Wednesday. 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.

[Publius6961]

LOL.
As I type this, FOX is reporting that Yemen wants the missiles back!

I say let's accomodate them...
He he he he he...

[hchutch]

Tell Yemen they can have the missiles. They can get them from the freighter, which is underwater.

[Sungirl]

I heard the same thing....they want them back....

[Sungirl]

Maybe we should see what Mike Farrel has to say about it before we do anything else....LOL!!

[kjam22]

I'd tell them that we want Osama Bin Ladden. Everybody wants something .......

[Centurion2000]

As I type this, FOX is reporting that Yemen wants the missiles back!

They should be VERY careful of what they wish for :)

[Brookhaven]

The Spanish navy was participating in the U.S.-led anti-terrorism operation in the region.

Three cheers for Spain!

The media focuses so much on France and statements from European leaders that oppose the war on terror it is easy to think that all of Europe opposes us. The truth is there are a lot of countries and people in Europe that support what we are doing.

[Quilla]

If this was a legitimate purchase of arms between Yemen and North Korea, why would they have been transported in a flagless vessel buried under concrete?

[txrangerette]

Not buying this "defensive" claim. It
orders SCUDS from NORTH KOREA !?!?!
(Axis of Evil, anyone?) & sneaks them
in under no flag, hidden in cement?

Supposedly, Yemen helps us now in the
War on Terror.

Uh huh...

Read where Egypt got this stuff, too.

A coordinated attack on Israel, down
the road?

[blam]

Wednesday, 11 December, 2002, 13:49 GMT, BBC

US berates N Korea over Scud exports

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has condemned North Korea over its apparent attempt to deliver a shipment of Scud missiles to Yemen.
Acting on American intelligence, the Spanish Navy intercepted and boarded the freighter So San in the Arabian Sea on Monday.

They continue to be the largest proliferator of missiles and ballistic missile technology on the face of the Earth.

US naval forces then conducted a search of the vessel and discovered 15 Scud missiles and warheads hidden under a cargo of cement, along with a quantity of chemicals.

Yemen has now confirmed that it ordered the missiles, and has protested to the US and Spain over the ships's seizure.

While the Yemeni Government is not regarded as an enemy by the US, there are fears that such military hardware could fall into the hands of radical Islamic groups operating in the country.

Mr Rumsfeld said: "North Korea doesn't like to hear me say it, but they continue to be the largest proliferator of missiles and ballistic missile technology on the face of the Earth.

"They are putting in the hands of many countries technology and capabilities which have the potential for destroying hundreds of thousands of people."

Legal questions

Mr Rumsfeld declined to comment on whether the missile shipment constituted a violation of international law, but said there were legal issues surrounding efforts to conceal the weapons.

Questions about the legality of the seizure have already been raised.

US naval forces have taken charge of the ship and are escorting it to Diego Garcia island.

The current US administration has branded North Korea part of an "axis of evil", along with Iraq and Iran.

[jriemer]

"The shipment is part of contracts signed some time ago. It belongs to the Yemeni government and its army and meant for defensive purposes,"

Inquiring minds want to know. The Yemeni government wants Scud missiles in their defense from WHOM? What threat to the Yemeni government would require the purchase of this type of military hardware?

Their answers / platitudes / excuses should be most enlightening.

Are you with us or against us...

jriemer

[hchutch]

All the more reason to put the freighter and the missile under at least a thousand feet of water. At that point, Yemen is welcome to get `em if they want `em.

Heck, if Yemen REALLY wants `em, they can try to take `em from us right now. If they feel lucky, that is...

[CindyDawg]

Does Yemen have the money for something like this? CD

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Yemeni government? Scuds? Why?

According to Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi;

“The shipment is part of contracts signed some time ago. It belongs to the Yemeni government and its army and is meant for defensive purposes.”

Sure, right Abub. The rest of the world is stupid.