LONDON — North Korean state media have confirmed the arrival in Pyongyang of a delegation from Iran.
Western intelligence sources said the delegation is in
North Korea for talks on ballistic missile development. The sources said the
delegation included senior officials authorized to acquire warhead
and missile technology from Pyongyang.
The official North Korean news agency reported that the Iranian
delegation was from the Foreign Ministry. The agency said the delegation was
led by Vice Minister Mahdi Safari.
But the intelligence sources said Safari was a cover for leading
scientists included in the Iranian delegation. The sources said the
relationship between Iran and North Korea was limited to missile
and nuclear weapons development.
"North Korea has been testing nuclear warheads as well as new missiles,"
an intelligence source said. "Much of that development has been financed by
Iran, which now wants the technology for its programs."
Iran's medium- and intermediate-range missile programs have been based
on North Korean weapons. Iran's Shihab-3 was a variant of North Korea's No
Dong missile, and Teheran has also received the longer-range Taepo Dong
missile from Pyongyang.
"Iran has been seeking additional technology to prepare for any war with
the United States," the intelligence source said. "North Korea has also been
playing a role in helping Iran conceal and protect its missile and nuclear
program."
"In July, it [North Korea] flight-tested a missile and in October it
tested a nuclear device," U.S. National Intelligence director John
Negroponte told the House Select Committee on Intelligence on Thursday. "We
remain concerned that it could proliferate these weapons abroad."
[On Thursday, Western diplomats said Iran has completed preparations for
the installation of 3,000 gas centrifuges at the uranium enrichment facility
at
Natanz. The diplomats said the operation of the centrifuges could help
produce at least 10 nuclear weapons per year.]
The CIA has deemed North Korea the leading missile exporter to the
Middle East. But the U.S. intelligence community said missile exports by
Pyongyang have declined over the last two years.
On Jan. 17, Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Najar warned that his
country was ready for any attack. Najar said United Nations sanctions would
not hamper Iran's defense or nuclear industry.
"Iran's armed forces are strongly controlling everything in the region
and were fully prepared not to allow any aggression," Najar said.
