Panama president Tweets Picture of North Korea 'Missiles' Ship

The president of Panama has tweeted a picture of missiles reportedly found on a ship heading for North Korea.

Ricardo Martinelli told RPC radio the ship had set sail from Cuba, before being boarded by Panamanian police.

He said the undeclared military cargo appeared to include missiles and non-conventional arms. He added that the ship was violating United Nations resolutions against arms trafficking.

The photo appears to be a green tubular object inside a cargo container or the ship's hold.

The president also tweeted that the arms were "hidden in containers underneath the cargo of sugar".

There have been no further details on the quantity of weapons aboard.

Mr Martinelli said that 35 North Koreans on the boat resisted police efforts to take the ship to the Caribbean port of Manzanillo. The crew was later taken into custody.

The captain of the ship had a heart attack and also tried to commit suicide during the operation.

The president added that authorities had been tipped off some days ago that the ship might be carrying drugs.