SANAA, 13 December 2002 — Yemen said yesterday it expected a North Korean ship carrying 15 Scud missiles and warheads to arrive at a Yemeni port within the next 48 hours and was not planning to buy more. “We have signed a contract with North Korea to buy this shipment in 1999 and we have no intention to purchase any other shipment,” a senior government official told Reuters. Washington released the North Korean ship So San on Wednesday, two days after it was intercepted by Spanish warships in the Arabian Sea. Spain has said 15 Scud missiles and conventional warheads as well as 85 drums of unidentified chemicals were found hidden under cement bags on the ship. Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr Al-Qirbi said the missiles were bought for defense purposes. “Yemen like every other country in the region is concerned about its security, about the stability of the region. Our objective is basically defensive,” Qirbi told BBC radio. “Yemen made the deal based on cost effectiveness.” (R)