Most crew members of detained N. Korean ship may be released

A NORTH KOREAN delegation arrived in Panama Wednesday, October 23, to investigate the legal status of 35 crewmen from a ship detained in July for trying to cross the Canal with undeclared Cuban weapons on board. 
Prosecutor Javier Caraballo said the delegation is only in Panama to check on the crew members and there will be no discussions about the boat or the weapons.
According to Caraballo, says La Prensa, the delegation made "a courtesy visit" to Attorney General Ana Belfon.
"They were interested in knowing the conditions in which the detainees are being kept," Caraballo said.
On the eve of the trip, Foreign Minister Fernando Núñez said that 33 of the 35 crew members might be released since they may not have known about the weapons.
The North Korean freighter "Chong Chon Gang" was detained on July 10 for trying to bring the weapons through the Canal hidden in a shipment of sugar from Cuba. The arms included a Mig aircraft and anti-missile batteries.