Bush administration cracks down on N. Korean missile aid to Iran

WASHINGTON — The Bush Administration has taken a tougher line on proliferation by moving early to block North Korean aid to Iran's missile program.

The State Department imposed sanctions on a North Korean company suspected of exporting missile technology to Iran, officials said. The sanctions on Changgwang Sinyong Corp. were imposed Jan. 17 on the initiative of the incoming administration and will last until April 6, 2002.

The North Korean firm is linked to the military in Pyongyang. The firm was accused of violating the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 that bans links to foreign companies deemed to have helped Iran's missile or nonconventional weapons programs, Middle East Newsline reported.

U.S. officials said the Bush administration would conduct a more hard-nosed policy toward North Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the administration will demand reciprocity for any goodwill gesture to Pyongyang.

North Korea, officials said, has not slowed its missile exports to such Middle East clients as Iran, Libya and Syria since Pyonyang's reconciliation effort with Washington. North Korea is also said to be continuing aid to Egypt's missile program.

Officials said the sanctions were launched by the new Bush administration and are meant to signal to Pyongyang that Washington will link reconciliation and U.S. financial aid to an end to North Korean missile and nonconventional proliferation. But they said the effort will be gradual to avoid a confrontation with Pyongyang.

Meanwhile the North Korean newspaper Rodong Shinmun criticized Bush administration plans to work more closely with Japan. "The United States is working hard to threaten and stifle [North Korea], calling for 'joint actions' and 'strengthened cooperation system' with Japan," it said.

Last week, the North denounced Secretary of State Colin Powell for "slandering our supreme leadership," citing his calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-il a "dictator." North Korea's military programs are expected to be a key subject in talks on Feb. 7 in Washington between South Korean Foreign Minister Lee Joung-Binn and Powell.