A group of men work clearing a container hidden in the North Korean flagged ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the pier in Manzanillo, Colon, Panama, 16 July 2013. The ship was carrying missile system components cloaked in a cargo of sugar and authorities presume that there may be more "military equipment" similar to the one seized. The North Korean freighter was travelling from Cuba toward the Panama Canal and back to its home country. [Photo/CFP]

Panama's president said on Monday that the captain of a ship from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea tried to kill himself after the vessel was stopped en route from Cuba and found to have suspected missile material on board. [Xinhua] 

View of a North Korean-flagged cargo ship in the Manzanillo dock in Colon, Panama, on 16 July 2013. Panamanian authorities detained the vessel with weapons hidden in a shipment of sugar from Cuba, announced the president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli.The authorities stopped the vessel suspecting it was carrying drugs. [Photo/Xinhua] 

View of a North Korean-flagged cargo ship in the Manzanillo dock in Colon, Panama, on 16 July 2013. Panamanian authorities detained the vessel with weapons hidden in a shipment of sugar from Cuba, announced the president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli.The authorities stopped the vessel suspecting it was carrying drugs. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Detail of alleged military equipment hidden in a container in the North Korean ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the pier in Manzanillo, Colon, Panama, 16 July 2013. The ship was carrying missile system components hidden in a cargo of sugar and authorities presume that there may be more 'military equipment' similar to the one seized. North Korean freighter was travelling from Cuba toward the Panama Canal and back to its home country. [Photo/CFP] 

Detail of alleged military equipment hidden in a container in the North Korean ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the pier in Manzanillo, Colon, Panama, 16 July 2013. The ship was carrying missile system components hidden in a cargo of sugar and authorities presume that there may be more 'military equipment' similar to the one seized. North Korean freighter was travelling from Cuba toward the Panama Canal and back to its home country. 

Panamenian President, Ricardo Martinelli (L), observes a container hidden in the North Korean flagged ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the pier in Manzanillo, Colon, Panama, 16 July 2013. The ship was carrying missile system components cloaked in a cargo of sugar and authorities presume that there may be more "military equipment" similar to the one seized. The North Korean freighter was travelling from Cuba toward the Panama Canal and back to its home country. [Photo/CFP] 

Panamenian President, Ricardo Martinelli, observes a container hidden in the North Korean flagged ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the pier in Manzanillo, Colon, Panama, 16 July 2013. The ship was carrying missile system components cloaked in a cargo of sugar and authorities presume that there may be more "military equipment" similar to the one seized. The North Korean freighter was travelling from Cuba toward the Panama Canal and back to its home country. [Photo/CFP] 

A group of men work at clearing a container hidden on the North Korean flagged ship Chong Chon Gang, docked at the pier in Manzanillo, Colon, Panama, 16 July 2013. The ship was carrying missile system components hidden in a cargo of sugar and authorities presume that there may be more 'military equipment' similar to the one seized. North Korean freighter was travelling from Cuba toward the Panama Canal and back to its home country. [Photo/CFP]