SEOUL – A North Korean crew have been charged for “illegally transporting undeclared military equipment” and could serve up to six year sentences in prison, Panama’s top prosecutor Javier Caraballo said in a public statement.

The 35-member crew of the North Korean-flagged Chong Chon Gang were detained by Panamian authorities on Wednesday after authorities stopped the vessel as it travelled from Cuba to North Korea.

“According to its declaration, the ship only carried 10,000 tonnes of sugar, it never declared war material and that in itself is a violation of the rules and a grave danger for the transit through