U.S. tries to block sale of 50 N. Korean missile engines
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, June 18, 2001
WASHINGTON ÑThe United States is trying to stop Egypt from
purchasing 50 missile engines from North Korea.
U.S. government sources said Egypt is negotiating with Pyongyang for the
purchase of 50 No-Dong missile engines. The missile is said to have a range
of between 1,000 and 1,300 kilometers and has already been purchased by Iran.
"We are talking about a very advanced stage of talks," a government
source said.
Egypt has been cooperating with North Korea on missile development for
nearly 20 years. But this is the first time Egypt is believed ready to
purchase such a major component of an intermediate-range missile, Middle East Newsline reported.
The sources said that earlier this year Egypt obtained a shipment of
missile components from Pyongyang. The shipment was said to have helped
complete a stage of Egypt's missile development.
The sources said the North Korean missiles are required for Egypt's
medium- and intermediate-range missile program. Egypt has several such
programs and
North Korea has helped by providing components, many of them based on
Western technology relayed by Cairo.
The Bush administration and Congress have raised the issue with Egyptian
officials. This has included meetings between the U.S. ambassador in Cairo,
Daniel Kurtzer, and Egyptian leaders. The issue was also raised with
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher. Maher is scheduled to arrive on
Wednesday in Washington for talks with Bush administration officials and
congressional leaders.
The Israeli daily Maariv, which first reported the story, said
congressional leaders have threatened to halt the $1.3 billion in annual
U.S. military aid to Egypt if Cairo acquires the missile engines. The
newspaper said that with North Korean engines, Egypt could fire missiles
that could strike any target in Israel.
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