WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has received intelligence reports that
North Korea delivered 24 No-Dong intermediate-range missiles to Egypt in the last half of 2001.
U.S. intelligence sources said the CIA report was sent to both the
Bush administration and Congress.
The No-Dong missiles did not contain engines but Egypt is believed to have received a separate shipment of up to 50
North Korean engines via Libya, Middle East Newsline reported.
"It's a slap in the face to all those who have been working to stop the
Egyptian-North Korean missile cooperation program," an intelligence source
said. "Egypt pledged that it wasn't seeking the No-Dong or its engine and
then acquired both."
The sources said the No-Dong missile would provide Egypt the ability to
attack targets in such countries as Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. They said
the main
aim of the No-Dong appears to be ensure Egyptian deterrence capability
against Israel.
"Egypt appears to be in a panic to obtain capability of operational
medium-range missiles that can guarantee strikes anywhere south of Beirut,"
another intelligence source said.
The disclosure of the No-Dong missile shipment to Egypt was first made last
month by a leading analyst at a session of a subcommittee of the House Armed
Services Committee. On May 23, Frank Gaffney, head of the Center for
Security Policy, told the House panel on terrorism that Egypt recently
received 24 No-Dong missiles from North Korea. He did not elaborate.
In May 2001, the Bush administration won an Egyptian pledge not to
purchase the No-Dong or its engine. At the time, Egypt was about to obtain
50 North Korean engines.
Within months, the intelligence sources said, Cairo arranged for the
engines to be delivered to Libya, where they were transported by land to
Egypt. In contrast, the No-Dong missiles were delivered directly to Egypt.
The sources said Washington has failed to persuade North Korea to stop
its missile sales. Instead, they said, North Korea has accelerated its
missile deliveries to the Middle East since the end of last year.
"North Korea is certainly a serious problem in that respect," U.S.
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who did not confirm the Egyptian
purchase, said. "They have dangerous technology in almost every category you
can imagine. They seem to show willingness to sell anything to anybody who
will pay them enough. So, it is a source of great concern."
The No-Dong issue was raised by the Bush administration and Egypt has
denied obtaining the missile. A U.S. official said the No-Dong is not
expected to be discussed during the meeting by President George Bush and
visiting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two men will meet at the
presidential retreat at Camp David on Friday and Saturday.
