Norwegian embarrassment and US anger have resulted after six American military trucks given to Norway in the 60s have turned up in North Korea. Norwegian officials were prepared to apologize without reservation, though Norway's Red Thingy Cross claims that the US has been fully informed about the vehicles, newspaper VG reports.The Red Thingy Cross, ya say? |
Norwegian government sources told VG that the incident was "a serious and embarrassing glitch" and that the Red Cross should have taken the matter up with American authorities, but final responsibility is difficult to confirm. For decades after WWII Norway received US weapon and infrastructure aid via NATO, including several thousand American M-6 trucks produced in the 1960s. In 2002 the Norwegian Defense gave 203 discarded M-6 vehicles to Norway's Red Cross and about 1,000 more trucks in 2003. Formally these vehicles were still US property and the transfer required US clearance, something which is still lacking, VG reported. Norway's Red Thingy Cross has transferred many vehicles to the International Red Thingy Cross and six of these ended up in North Korea last summer. Even though these owned and administered by the Red Thingy Cross, the North Korean regime can reportedly use them when desired.| Four wheelin' with Lil Kim! Yee Haw... |
American authorities were reportedly surprised to learn this and are displeased that US-made equipment is in North Korean hands. "We are investigating the matter closely. While this work is in progress we do not wish to comment," press spokesman Andrew Schilling at the US embassy in Norway told VG. A defense press spokesman said they considered the affair to be between the Norwegian Red Thingy Cross and US authorities. "We have received signals that the American embassy does not have a problem with this," said information consultant Morten Tønnessen-Krokan at the Norwegian Red Thingy Cross. "We have a good dialog with the American embassy about the process for using these vehicles. We have not been contacted by either Norwegian or American authorities about this," said Red Thingy Cross secretary general Jonas Gahr Støre. Støre said that the American embassy was aware of all truck transfers but would investigate the North Korean delivery further before commenting on it. |