The president of Panama Ricardo Martinelli has said that a ship, sailing under the North Korean flag, was found to be carrying military equipment when stopped on the Panama Canal.
The 35-member crew is reported to have resisted the boarding of the ship and the captain attempted to commit suicide.
"This material not being declared and Panama being a neutral country, a country in peace, that doesn't like war, we feel very worried about this war material and we don't know what else will have... passed through the Panama Canal." Martinelli said.
UN sanctions mean North Korea is not allowed to export or import weapons, other than the import of small arms.