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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

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