Video: North Korean missile ship: Panama calls on support from international community "We are going to ask for international help, from countries who are our friends, or from the United Nations to see if they can send technical experts, so that they can be here to determine what exactly are these thing, because here no one has that expertise," Mr Martinelli said. A statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry, read on Cuban National television, said the vessel was bound for North Korea mostly loaded with sugar but added that the cargo also included 240 metric tons of "obsolete defensive weapons." Panamanian authorities suspected the vessel could be carrying contraband and tried to communicate with the crew, who didn't respond. The 35 North Koreans on the boat were arrested after resisting police efforts to intercept the ship in Panamanian waters as it moved toward the canal Martinelli told private RPC radio station. The captain had a heart attack and also tried to commit suicide during the operation, Martinelli said. North Korea's government has made no public comment on the case.