Kim Jong Il says missile sales will continue

TOKYO — North Korea has pledged to continue missile sales to Middle East clients. These include Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Syria, Middle East Newsline reported.

The pledge was relayed to a European Union delegation that visited Pyongyang last week. The delegation met with North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il. EU officials said North Korea has pledged to maintain a moratorium on missile tests. But sales of missiles will continue.

"If he finds people who want to buy it, he will sell it," EU security affairs chief Javier Solana said. "His message was, 'I need money. I'm able to produce this, and I will sell it.'"

U.S. officials say proliferation, not testing, is the issue. Pyongyang continues to sell missile technology and components to virtually all of its traditional clients in the Middle East.

North Korea has sold missile components and technology to Egypt, Iran, Libya and Syria. Pyongyang is said to have accelerated missile deliveries over the last two months.

The commander of the U.S. forces in South Korea, Gen. Thomas Schwartz, told Senate Armed Services Committee in March that North Korea is the "number-one proliferator of missiles in the world." Schwartz told the committee that Pyongyang has sold missiles to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, and Egypt.