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Wednesday, November 17, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Missile proliferation report: China, North Korea still doing it

WASHINGTON — China and North Korea, deemed major suppliers to the Middle East, are undermining arms control treaties, a report said.

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The Congressional Research Service said missile proliferation in the Middle East and other areas is bolstered by exports from Beijing and Pyongyang, Middle East Newsline reported.

In a report, CRS said both countries have refused to sign the Missile Technology Control Regime as they sell components and technology to such countries as Iran and Syria.


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"North Korea's missile development, production, deployment, and export of missiles has continued largely outside the reach of the MTCR," the report, titled "Proliferation Control Regimes: Background and Status," said. "Reported North Korean exports of missile production technology to Iran, Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt seriously undercut the international standards and goals of the regime. In the view of some analysts, the activities of North Korea demonstrate the failure of the MTCR and the necessity of other measures."

The report, released in October, said MTCR blocked programs in the 1980s by Egypt and Iraq, particularly that of the Condor ballistic missile, meant to replace the Scud. But China, North Korea and Russia have continued to transfer components and technology, including that of long-range weapons systems, to Egypt.

"The major ongoing challenge, however, is that much of the international commerce in missiles and missile technology occurs between nations that do not adhere to MTCR guidelines," the report said. "China and North Korea are not members, although China promised to observe the guidelines after the United States had twice imposed economic sanctions on Chinese companies for transferring missile items to Pakistan, on the condition that the United States would lift those sanctions."

The report said MTCR would be jeopardized by the emergence of Iran and other countries as missile suppliers. CRS said missiles could be exported under the guise of space launch vehicles or unmanned aerial vehicles.

"As some developing nations become increasingly capable of producing missiles indigenously, the effectiveness of supplier controls may gradually erode," the report said.

Congress has established economic sanctions on missile proliferators. But the report pointed out that successive administrations have often waived sanctions to gain other benefits.

For example, Washington has approved sales of tactical missiles of up to 250 kilometers to Turkey, which has been engaged in cooperation with China. At the same time, the United States has offered missile defense systems and technology to Middle East states.

"Air defense missiles and anti-theater ballistic missiles probably enhance the security of U.S. allies, but none are expected to be 100 percent effective," the report said. "In some cases, such as Taiwan, deployments might increase tensions. The Obama administration and Congress will likely continue to review defense and missile nonproliferation policy objectives in this area."



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