North Korea Slams US BMD
March 30, 2004 :: Financial Times :: News
Responding in part to recent announcement of plans to deploy Aegis sea-based missile interceptors in the Sea of Japan, North Korea is complaining vigorously of U.S. missile defense efforts. This should come as no surprise, since they among many potential missile threats have the most to lose from the system to be deployed in 2004.
The state-run Minju Joson newspaper reported that the “frantic” American efforts for missile defense are part of an invariable ambition for world domination, which will forces North Korea to increase its “self-defense” forces—i.e, offensive ballistic missiles.
That North Korea talks the talk of an arms race against the United States shows something of the absurdity of mutually assured destruction. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea
North Korea Offering Missiles to Myanmar (Burma)
March 25, 2004 :: Bloomberg :: News
North Korea’s marketing of its ballistic missiles is certainly an ambitious one, and in addition to its many mideastern clients, has recently included Myanmar, previously called Burma.
Matthew Daley, deputy assistant secretary in the bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the State Department, testified before the House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights, that North Korea has offered to sell missiles to Myanmar:
Of particular concern, we also have reason to believe that the D.P.R.K. has offered surface-to-surface missiles. We have raised this issue of possible missile transfers with senior Burmese officials and registered our concerns in unambiguous language. Although Burmese officials have indicated that they have not accepted offers of such weapons systems, we will continue to monitor the situation and will deal with it vigorously and rapidly.
Myanmar, or Burma, is among the countries listed by the department of the Treasury as having restrictions placed upon them under US law. (Article, Link)
» State Dept. Transcript of Daley’s Testimony
» Dept. of Treasury overview of country sanctions
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation
Sec. of Navy: U.S. to Deploy Aegis Destroyer in Sea of Japan This Year
March 23, 2004 :: Reuters :: News
In addition to the land-based interceptors at Fort Greeley, Alaska, the United States will also be deploying an Aegis cruiser as part of the missile defense deployment scheduled to take place by September 30, according to Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, speaking in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
The announcement comes as good news, indicating that deployment is on schedule, and that the land-based system will be supplemented and expanded. (More »»»)
» Text of Secretary England’s remarks on missile defense
» Japan pleased with US plans to deploy Aegis
» Sec. England outlines plan through 2006
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Policy, Sea-Based Systems
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
China and Pakistan Surpassing North Korea as Chief Missile Proliferators to Mideast
March 17, 2004 :: East Asia Intel :: News
When it comes to missile proliferation, its no easy to task to better North Korea. But China and its ally, Pakistan, seem intent on doing so.
As North Korea’s proliferation has slowed due to international pressure, the mideast missile market, countries such as Iran and Syria, are seeking out other standbys, reports East-Asia-Intel.com. North Korea has been said to have sold $580 million worth of missiles to the mideast in 2001. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Pakistan, Proliferation
Tenet Testimony: North Korea Continues Ballistic Missile Advances
February 24, 2004 :: CIA :: News
Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence as to the nature and extent of terrorism and the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. In general, he noted that the “picture is changing before our eyes—-changing at a rate I have not seen since the end of the Cold War.” After noting the continued efforts of terrorists such as Al Qaeda to acquire ballistic missiles and WMDs, Tenet went on to roughly outline the major capabilities and proliferation activities of India, Pakistan, Syria, and Iran, but devoted particular attention to three “pivotal states” of concern: China, Russia, and North Korea. (More »»»)
» More stories on: China, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Proliferation, Russia, Syria, Terrorism
CIA Report on WMDs and Ballistic Missile Proliferation
November 10, 2003 :: CIA :: News
The CIA’s most recent intelligence estimate to Congress outlines the state of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile capabilities in a number of “countries of concern,” as well as continued proliferation by Russia, China, and North Korea. (More »»»)
» More stories on: China, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia
Russia Refuses to Rule Out Arms Sales to North Korea
October 25, 2003 :: The Chosun Ilbo (S. Korea) :: News
Responding to criticism that Russia has been supplying North Korea with weapons and military technology, Russian Defense Deputy Minister Michael Dmitriev claims that the ties with the Communist country have been suspended, due to North Korea’s poor economic state. While admitting international concerns about this form of aid to North Korea, Dmitriev insisted that “Because the UN’s weapon export prohibitions do not apply to North Korea, we are able to supply North Korea with weapons.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation, Russia
North Korea Shipped 400 SCUDs to Middle East
October 23, 2003 :: SpaceDaily :: News
A report released by the South Korean defense ministry claims that North Korea has shipped over 400 SCUD-class ballistic missiles to the Middle East since the 1980s. The biggest buyers were Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, but also include Egypt and Libya. Increasingly, the Communist government of North Korea continues to rely upon missile exports for its single largest source of currency. Sales have been estimated at around $500 million since the mid-80s. (Article, Link)
» World Tribune on NK missile sales
» More stories on: Iran, North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: Scud B variant, Sergeant, Shahab-3
Russia Aided North Korean Export Missiles
September 20, 2003 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
Russia aided North Korea’s Taepo’ Dong missile development, reports Geostrategy-Direct. The Taepo-Dong may well have been a copy of the Russian SS-N-6, or R-27. Iran is the most likely client to purchase Taepo’ Dongs, when they become available. China has also been using North Korea as a front to export missiles. “Although China recently issued updated regulations on the export of chemical and biological agents, as well as missile-related export controls, full implementation and effective enforcement are still lacking,” Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. “We continue to see disturbing cases of proliferation activities by certain Chinese firms.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-17, Tien Chi, Tien Ma 1
Sokolski on North Korean Proliferation
August 19, 2003 :: OpinionJournal.com :: Analysis
Henry Sokolski discusses the likely prospect of North Korea proliferating nuclear warheads and more advanced delivery systems to countries like Saudi Arabia, if the upcoming meeting between the U.S., China, North Korea, Japan and South Korea does not defuse the North Korean problem.
Saudi Arabia already has a number of CSS-2 missiles, with a range of 2,400km, which it acquired from China during the early 1990s. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: CSS-2, CSS-2A
