N. Korea seeks diplomatic solution to ship incident

NORTH KOREA has contacted Panama, through a "verbal note" seeking a "diplomatic solution" to the incident with a North Korean ship detained in Manzanillo,

The ship was carrying undeclared weapons hidden under a cargo of sugar from Cuba and was detained before it could pass through the canal. It; 36 man crew was detained by Panamanian authorities.

An official source who requested anonymity told the Efe news agency on Friday, August 9 today that the note was sent in the by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea through its embassy accredited to Havana, and said Panama's Foreign Ministry will consider it.