Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community has determined that Iran and North Korea continue to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Officials said the intelligence community has been tracking ICBM cooperation between Pyongyang and Teheran amid the latter’s nuclear agreement with the West.

The officials said Iran was financing much of the North Korean missile program in exchange for the transfer of technology, expertise and components.

“Iran could develop and test an ICBM capable of reaching the United States by 2015,” the U.S. National Air and Space Intelligence Center said.

In late October, Iran sent a delegation to North Korea as part of the development of an 80-ton rocket booster that could serve as the basis of an ICBM. The Washington Free Beacon, quoting officials, said the Iranians came from the state-owned Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which builds intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

“The booster is believed by U.S. intelligence agencies to be intended for a new long-range missile or space launch vehicle that could be used to carry nuclear warheads, and could be exported to Iran in the future,” the online news site said.

The booster was said to serve as a thruster for what officials termed a
“super ICBM.” They said the thruster did not resemble anything in either the Iranian or North Korean arsenal.

Officials said Iran has attended virtually all intermediate- and
long-range missile tests by North Korea. They said North Korean technology
was determined to have helped Teheran complete its recent missile
development programs, including the solid-fuel Sejil.

The administration of President Barack Obama has refused to confirm the
latest developments in ICBM cooperation between Pyongyang and Teheran. But
officials have acknowledged intensified North Korean missile development
that was threatening U.S. allies in Asia.

“If we do not see signs of North Korean sincerity, if they do not act,
demonstrate that they understand they must fulfill their obligations, give
up their nuclear weapons, then there’s more pressure that will be brought to
bear on them,” U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Glyn Davies, said on Dec.
2.

  components, Glyn Davies, Iran, Sejil missile, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, U.S. intel: Iran financing North Korean ICBMs in exchange for technology, U.S. National Air and Space Intelligence Center