Hong Kong customs officers have seized one of the most advanced and controversial amphibious tanks under development in Asia.
Investigations suggest the disarmed K-21 light tank and components were being shipped from Saudi Arabia back to South Korea through Hong Kong - without import and export licences for strategic items.
'It is alleged that the consignment is an exhibition item,' a senior customs officer said yesterday. 'Initial investigations indicate that it is not an out-of-service tank and it appears to be quite new and built for the purpose of exhibition.'
Investigations were continuing and the case would be handled in accordance with Hong Kong laws, the officer said.
The seizure at Kwai Chung container terminal comes just after South Korea's defence ministry announced an investigation into potentially fatal design flaws in the light tanks, which were launched late last year. It had hoped the vehicle would prove a hot defence export item after being developed over a decade by the ministry and South Korean defence firms.
A South Korean soldier died in July after he was trapped in one of the 26-tonne vehicles, when it sank during a river crossing. Some media reports suggest a faulty pump was to blame in what was supposed to be a routine operation.