LONDON — Iran has modeled its space program after North Korea's, a British magazine reported.

For both nations, the space program is regarded by Western intelligence as a cover for the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Industry sources report that Iran has been building space facilities similar to those of North Korea. They said the facilities had been used for a space launch in February.

"This analysis suggests that Teheran is following the same path in its missile program as North Korea," Jane's Intelligence Review reported April 11.

The magazine said that it had located the site of Iran's secret space center, 230 kilometers southeast of Teheran. Jane's reportedly examined images relayed by DigitalGlobe Inc.’s QuickBird satellite and compared them with footage of a February 2008 launch.

On Feb. 4, Iran reported a successful launch of its Kavoshgar-1 research rocket. Jane's, however, dismissed Iran's assertions that the space launch vehicle was a two-stage missile.

"Iranian statements claim that this recent launch was of a two-stage missile, which would indicate a significant enhancement in Iran's capabilities," Jane's said. "However, closer inspection of the footage from the launch shows it to be a single-stage, liquid-propelled missile."

Still, Jane's said Iran could be developing a solid-fuel missile. The report pointed to facilities where the development might be taking place. Other analysts said the satellite photographs indicate an Iranian project to develop an ICBM by 2013. They said the Iranian project was meant to produce a missile with a range of 6,000 kilometers, similar to that of North Korea's Taepodong three-stage ballistic missile.

"The production and testing facility next to the Kavoshgar-1 launch site would seem well positioned to contribute to this third stage," said Geoffrey Forden, a research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

---