CIA failed to track both Iran, N. Korea missile programs

WASHINGTON -- A senior U.S. official has acknowledged that the CIA and the rest of the American intelligence community failed to track the development of both Iranian and North Korean missile programs.

The official as well as a leading member of Congress told an open hearing that the United States underestimated both the Iranian and North Korean capabilities in developing medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

The acknowledgement came during a hearing on Wednesday by a joint hearing of the military procurement and military research and development subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee. The hearing focused on missile defense programs.

Rep. Curt Weldon, chairman of the research and development subcommittee, led U.S. Air Force Gen. Robert Kadish, head of the Defense Department's Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, through a series of questions that recalled faulty U.S. assessments of Iranian and North Korean missile programs.

"Isn't it true, General, that -- really a surprise to the Intelligence Committee on July 24, 1998, when Iran test-fired the Shahab-3 missile?" Weldon asked. "That presented a technology challenge that we did not think Iran would have for some time, and they now possess a capable medium-range system."

"I believe that to be true," Kadish responded.

"Isn't it true that on August the 31st of 1998, North Korea fired a Taepo Dong-1 stage missile, which also surprised the intelligence community, and which the CIA admits through their strategic analyst, Bob Walpole, could in fact hit the United States with a small payload?" Weldon asked.

"I believe that's accurate," Kadish asked.

The hearing was told that North Korea has tested, deployed and sold extended range ballistic missiles to client states. U.S. officials said the sales went to unidentified Middle East states.

Weldon said his subcommittee and the rest of Congress increased the Clinton administration's request for missile defense because Pentagon chiefs, including then-director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Gen. Lester Lyles, "very quietly" told Congress that the programs were underfunded.

Kadish said Russia, which has vigorously opposed the establishment of an anti-missile defense system, has its own missile defense network. This includes the deployment of the SA-10, SA-12 and continued development of new systems.

The general said the Russian anti-missile defense system has undergone three upgrades since it was first deployed.

Weldon said he proposed that Russia discuss with the United States the prospect of cooperation in developing a limited boost-phase intercept in the Russian far east, "specifically aimed at North Korea's threat, which is both a threat to the U.S. and to Russia."