Scud missiles seized in Arabian Sea
11 December, 2002
United States experts are examining a ship in the Arabian Sea after it was stopped by two Spanish warships and found to be carrying concealed Scud missiles.
The cargo was found aboard a North Korean ship - the So San - and US officials believe it was bound for Yemen.
Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo told a news conference that 15 complete Scud missile bodies, 15 highly-explosive conventional warheads and nitric acid were found during a search of the vessel by the Spanish navy.
He added that the ship was heading for "a port in the Middle East".
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said North Korea was "one of the major proliferators and it appears she was busy proliferating again".