LONDON Ñ A British Defence Ministry report has concluded that "Iraq, North Korea, Iran and Libya are working to obtain
longer-range ballistic missiles with the potential ability to target the UK
or our deployed forces."
The report, entitled "Missile Defence: A Public
Discussion Paper," warned that London must explore the prospect of
installing a missile defense system in cooperation with the United States
and NATO.
"We assess that there is no immediate significant ballistic missile
threat to the UK," the report said. "But we
believe that Iraq, North Korea, Iran and Libya are working to obtain
longer-range ballistic missiles with the potential ability to target the UK
or our deployed forces."
The report cited Iraq as the leading missile threat to British
interests, Middle East Newsline reported. It said the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could fire
Al Hussein medium-range missiles with nonconventional warheads toward
British military bases in Cyprus. Iraq, the report said, has up to 20 such
missiles.
"Elsewhere the most credible potential missile threat comes from North
Korea, Iran, and Libya," the report said. "Iraq and some other states would
also be capable of targeting UK interests overseas, or British forces
deployed in their area."
So far, officials said, Washington has not submitted a formal
request for use of British military bases for missile defense assets.
Of the potential threats, Libya is located closest to Britain, with a
distance of 2,350 kilometers. Iran and Iraq are located about 3,700
kilometers away and North Korea 8,600 kilometers.
The report said missile threats stem from North Korean aid to
liquid-fuel programs. This could lead to solid-fuel programs, mobile
platforms and longer-range missiles. Such missiles could be disguised as
satellite launch vehicle programs.
North Korea has sold missile technology to a range of Middle East
countries, the report said. The report said Pyongyang sold at least 400
missiles to such countries as Egypt, Iran, Libya, Syria, the United Arab
Emirates and Yemen since 1987.
"Foreign sales may also allow North Korea to obtain flight test data
from foreign customers during North Korea's own moratorium on
flight-testing," the report said. "North Korea has provided No-Dong missile
technology to Iran and Pakistan, enabling them to acquire their own
versions. Scud technology is also available for export, and has been sold to
Iran, Syria, Egypt, Libya, UAE and Yemen."
The report said Iran has completed several successful tests on the
Shihab-3 intermediate missile and "is working to produce a substantial
force. Iran has made no secret of its aspirations to develop a satellite
launch vehicle capability."
Libya seeks to produce extended-range Scuds with extensive North Korean
assistance, the report said. This includes the provision of components and
equipment. Libya also has an interest in procuring a longer-range
capability.
The report said Britain regards diplomacy as the first means to counter
the missile threat. This includes support for nonproliferation accords.
"The government will agree to a U.S. request for the use of UK
facilities for missile defence only if we believe that doing so enhances the
security of the UK and the NATO alliance," the report said. "In this, the
key point must be that the UK and other countries need to address the
ballistic missile threat from certain states of concern. The principal
driver of this potential threat to the UK is not the deployment of missile
defences, or the use of UK facilities as part of a U.S. system, but the
ability of states of concern to succeed in flouting the international
non-proliferation framework by developing or acquiring weapons of mass
destruction and their means of delivery."
