US accuses DPRK of selling missles

From the Korea Times
10/30/2006

North May Have Been Selling Missiles

North Korea was selling its missiles to the Near East as recently as 2003-2004, according to inferences made in the latest report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS).

The annual report, titled “ Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations,” says 40 surface-to-surface missiles were sold to the Near East by “other suppliers” that exclude the United States, Russia, China, and European countries.

The New York Times, quoting Pentagon and other U.S. administration officials, said North Korea is the unnamed supplier.

CRS reports are written for congressmen and their aides.

Dated Oct. 20, the report tallies and analyzes general weapons transfers between 1998-2005. The missile sales figures were for 2001-2005.

The number of missiles sold by “other suppliers” is the same as that of the previous report that covered the period between 2001-2004, suggesting North Korea did not export more missiles in 2005.

But in a report for the 2000- 2003 period, the other suppliers were believed to have sold 20 surface-to-surface missiles to the Near East, indicating there were additional exports of the weapons to the region between 2003 and 2004.

The year 2004 was when the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) got under way to interdict shipments of weapons of mass destruction.

Share

Comments are closed.