Investigators -- including Customs and Revenue personnel and experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation -- who have completed examination of some 177 tonnes of cargo carried by the North Korean vessel Ku-Wol San say that evidence lies in the blueprints found in some crates and the nature of components. Defence experts who examined the cargo have concluded it could be used to assemble SRBMs like the Hatf-I, Hatf-II and Hatf-III and perhaps medium-range missiles like the Shaheen as well.

Among items found are instruments for testing performance and trajectory of ballistic missiles, some high-altitude testing equipment, rolled steel metal frustum, generator condensers, optical protractors, theodolites, projectiles and some construction material for launching pads. Inthe ship's manifest, all this had been described as water-treatment and water-refining equipment.

While diplomatically, India has underplayed the seizure, criminal action is on the cards. Showcause notices are to be served soon and the vessel is likely to be confiscated. Customs has appraised the value of the carrier at around Rs 5 crore and its missile-manufacturing cargo at Rs 35 crore.

Among the parties to be show caused are the owners of the ship, the North Korean Government-owned Bunhung Shipping Company, Tae-Min Hun, the ship's master and Kim-sol Ik, its chief officer. While the two shippers are now in a Bhuj prison, the remaining 42 crew members are on board the ship, anchored at Kandla port.

Officials who have questioned the North Korean sailors say it is apparent that they were aware of the nature of the undeclared continued on page 9cargo. The Kim-sol Ik had sailed from the North Korean port of Nampo, had anchored at Kandla on June 9 and offloaded 13,000 tonnes of sugar by June 26. The sugarwas meant for two Gujarat-based trading houses, ACT and AFL. These two companies are unlikely to face any punitive action for involvement in the case.

During the early days of investigation, Tae-Min Hun an Kim-sol had feigned ignorance of the destination of the ship and insisted they were proceeding to Malta. But they are said to have now confessed that their next port of call was Karachi and that they would have received instructions about where precisely they should offload the cargo once they left Kandla.