By: USNI News Editor
Published: February 10, 2014 9:25 AM
Updated:

Panamaniain investigators inspect a Cuban MiG 21 found hidden on a North Korean merchant vessel on July 21, 2013. REUTERS Photo
North Korean officials have settled up a fine set by Panamanian authorities incurred after a North Korean ship attempted to transit the Panama Canal with containers full of illicit — but badly dated — weapons from Cuba, canal officials said on Saturday.
The original fine of $1 million was reduced to $693,333.10, canal administrator Jorge Quijano said in a report in the Agence France-Presse.
“They just paid the fine in cash,” Quijano said.
“So the ship is free to set sail.”
“So the ship is free to set sail.”

Last month Panama released 32 of the crew from custody keeping the ship’s captain, first officer and ‘political secretary’ in jail to face arms trafficking charges, according to a report from Marine Link.