U.S. ally gets N. Korean missile aid, CIA reports
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, March 14, 2000
WASHINGTON -- North Korea is providing Egypt and Syria with missile
technology meant to vastly increase the weapons capabilities of the two
Middle East nations, the CIA says.
In an unclassified report to Congress released last week, the CIA
provided few details of the missile program of Egypt. But it was the first
assertion by the U.S. intelligence agency that Washington's leading ally in
the Arab world is cooperating with Pyongyang, regarded as one of the most
dangerous adversaries of the United States.
"Egypt continues its effort to develop and produce ballistic missiles
with the assistance of North Korea," the CIA report said. "This activity is
part of a long-running program of ballistic missile cooperation between
these two countries."
The report did not elaborate but was the first reference to U.S.
concerns that despite Washington's appeals Egypt is relaying Western
technology to Pyongyang for North Korea's missile programs. Last year, three
Egyptian government companies were sanctioned for exporting dual use
technology to Pyongyang.
The CIA said North Korea maintains its ballistic missile program as a
major export item to Middle East clients. "Throughout the first half of
1999, North Korea continued to export ballistic missile-related equipment
and missile components, materials and technical expertise to countries in
the Middle East and Africa," the report said. "Pyongyang attaches a high
priority to the development and sale of ballistic missiles, equipment, and
related technology. Exports of ballistic missiles and related technology are
one of the North's major sources of hard currency."
Another North Korean client is Syria, the CIA said. The report said
North Korea, China and Russia have helped Syria's missile and
nonconventional weapons program.
North Korea was reported to be helping Damascus assemble liquid-fueled
Scud C missiles, with an estimated range of 500 kilometers. Pyongyang and
other countries were also helping Syria develop the much-more advanced solid
fuel rockets.
"Russian entities during the reporting period continued to supply a
variety of ballistic missile-related goods and technical know-how to Iran
and were expanding missile-related assistance to Syria and India," the
report said.
Industry analysts said the solid-fuel missile program is regarded as far
more advanced than liquid-fuel programs. Solid fuel missiles can be prepared
far more quickly than their liquid-fuel counterparts and can be more easily
concealed from enemy surveillance.
The CIA report, in a rare assertion of joint cooperation, cited Iran as
a major provider of help to Syria's missile program. "During the first half
of 1999, Damascus continued work on establishing a solid-propellant rocket
motor development and production capability with help from outside countries
such as Iran," the report said. "Foreign equipment and assistance to its
liquid-propellant missile program, primarily from Russian entities, but also
from firms in China and North Korea, also have been and will continue to be
essential for Syria's effort."
The report said Russia and countries from the former Soviet Union
continue to be Syria's major suppliers of advanced conventional weapons. The
report said sales of such weapons declined during the first half of last
year.
"Russia in particular wants to keep its predominant position as the key
supplier of arms to Damascus," the CIA said.
Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Subscribe to World Tribune.com's Daily Headline Alert
|