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U.S.: For N. Korea, there's no business like missile business

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, June 12, 2000

WASHINGTON -- Only days before the historic summit between the leaders of both Koreas, U.S. officials have told private organizations and reporters that North Korea is selling missiles and technology "far and wide" to customers of all political stripes.

The officials said North Korea has rejected U.S. appeals and is peddling virtually all of its intermediate and long-range missiles to such countries as Iran, Syria and Libya. These include the No-Dong missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers and the Taepo Dong-1 with a range of 1,500 kilometers.

The No-Dong has already served as the basis for the Shihab-3 missile of Iran and the Ghauri missile of Pakistan. Much of the trade, the officials said, is done through front companies or brokers meant to conceal North Korean involvement.

"North Korea has peddled its missile technology far and wide, to potential customers of disparate political stripes located from northern Africa to South Asia," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Einhorn said.

Einhorn told an audience in Hong Kong on Wednesday that North Korean missile programs continue to threaten the United States and its allies. He said that despite U.S. appeals Pyongyang has not suspended its Taepo Dong-2 missile program.

The United States and North Korea are currently holding talks in Malaysia and Asian diplomatic sources said Washington is expected to lift restrictions on Pyongyang. The sources said some of the restrictions will be lifted after the summit between North Korea and South Korea next week.

The sources said Pyongyang and Washington reached agreement on the easing of U.S. sanctions after North Korea pledged to suspend a planned missile launch of the Taepo Dong-2 in May.

The U.S. official said China, too, has been helping Iran and Arab states, with their missile programs. But he said Beijing has "also worked behind the scenes with North Korea to encourage restraint in both the nuclear and missile fields."

"The Chinese leadership has demonstrated that it takes very seriously its recent commitments to restrain nuclear-related exports," Einhorn said. Beijing has also abided by its 1994 pledge not to export complete missiles. But Chinese entities continue to provide equipment, technology, and materials to missile programs of concern in Iran, Pakistan, and elsewhere."

Monday, June 12, 2000

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