May 5, 2004 :: Worldtribune.com :: News
Quoting “western intelligence sources,” worldtribune.com reports that North Korea has begun to offer its long-range Taepo-Dong II for sale to several middle eastern nations.
The news comes just days after other reports that North Korea is building new missile bases, developing new missiles, has “at least” eight nuclear weapons, and, ironically enough, that Kim Jong Il pledged to the United States that he would not transfer ballistic missiles to terrorists. The sale of missiles is, however, North Korea’s primary source of revenue.
Likely buyers include another rogue state and state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, which has apparently been negotiating a purchase with Pyongyang. Worldtribune’s source says that 2003 negotiations for the purchase of the Taepo-Dong by Syria and Libya apparently were not pursued, but that Iran was considering the Taepo-Dong as a possible basis for the its ICBM program, the Shahab-5, the development of the engines for which China is also named as an aid.
Depending on the version of the Taepo-Dong II, the intercontinental missile has a range of 6000km or more. The three stage version of the missile has a range capable of striking the continental United States. (Article)
» Dec. 14, 1999: North Korea Readies Taepo-Dong I missiles for sale to Iran
» Dec. 7, 1999: U.S. expects Iran will be North Korea’s first ICBM customer
» May 5, 2004: Middle East Newswire on Taepo Dong Market
» May 6, 2004: LA Times: North Korea “may” have missile to reach Guam
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: Shahab-3, Taep'o-dong 2
