North Korean exports intercepted
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8410042.stm
Thailand seizes 'arms plane flying from North Korea'
Thailand has seized a cargo plane refuelling in Bangkok airport, which it says was carrying weapons from North Korea to an unknown destination.
The five crew members were also detained.
Rocket-propelled grenades, missiles and other weapons were found aboard, military investigators said.
It is believed that the plane had made an emergency request to refuel. It had taken off from the North Korean capital Pyongyang, the Thai Air Force said.
According to local media reports, four members of the crew are from Kazakhstan, and one from Belarus.
NZ firm may face terrorism charges
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3173489/NZ-firm-may-face-terrorism-charges
A New Zealand firm could face terrorism charges or prosecution for violating United Nations sanctions on North Korean weapons trading.
SP Trading, which is registered to an office in Auckland's Salvation Army building in Queen St, chartered the Georgia-registered Illyushin 76 cargo plane seized in Bangkok as it was flying from North Korea to an unknown third country. It carried missiles, explosives and assorted weapons.
The shell – or non-trading – company that owns SP owns another firm that last month bought $70 million worth of Azerbaijan oil destined for an unknown country.
A spokesman for Foreign Minister Murray McCully said of SP Trading that he was "aware of the alleged link and we are trying to find out much more as we can urgently".
Police confirmed they were involved and said that "when more information is obtained we will determine where the investigation will go".
Sources close to the investigation said charges could be laid under the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act, which makes it a criminal offence to take part in, finance or recruit for a terrorist organisation or terrorist act.
United Nations sanctions banning North Korea from exporting any arms except light weapons were implemented in June after Pyongyang tested a nuclear warhead.
Thai investigators are unsure where the plane, operated by Georgia's Air West Ltd, was heading or who co-ordinated the flight plan.
Air West director Nodar Kakabadze told the Wall Street Journal that the company had no information on SP Trading.
"We signed a contract with SP Trading November 4 this year to carry out some flights. That's it," he said.
"I know nothing more about the company, and we'd never worked with them before."
The five-member aircrew have denied knowledge of weapons onboard.
They have been charged with illegally possessing heavy weapons and mis-stating details of the cargo.
SP Trading was registered on July 22 this year with offices at Level 5, 369 Queen St.
Part of the floor is operated by Danite Corporate who say they rent "virtual offices" – address services that allow users to reduce office costs – to dozens of companies.
A woman referred inquiries to its registered director, Lu Zhang, also known as "Lulu", and Paul Taylor.
A man who would say only that his name was Paul said the pair were "not here".
SP Trading is owned by Vicam (Auckland) Ltd, of the same address. Its director is Nesita Manceau, a New Zealander living in Vanuatu, which is a tax haven.