CMA CGM's 2,668-TEU ANL Australia implicated North Korean arms deal

AUSTRALIAN authorities are investigating possible legal breaches after a North Korean arms shipment for Iran was seized by United Arab Emirates customs aboard a French-Australian owned containership, The Associated Press reported.

The ship is owned by Melbourne-based ANL, a subsidiary of Marseilles-based CMA CGM Group, the world's third-largest container shipping line. ANL Melbourne manager David Pratt refused to comment.

Australian Shipping Minister Anthony Albanese said the Bahamas flagged 2,668-TEU ANL Australia was Australian owned and said the foreign affairs ministry was investigating whether Australian laws enforcing UN sanctions had been broken. "We take our obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions seriously," he said.

The seizure was the first since the UN Security Council tightened sanctions against North Korea in June in response to its nuclear testing and missile firings.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman said containers carrying "arms and related materials" were seized by UAE customs. She said the seizure occurred in late July, but UN officials said it was early August.

"Australian laws implementing UN Security Council obligations apply both in Australia as well as to Australian citizens and corporations anywhere in the world," she said.

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