China, North Korea Running Missile Export Business To Mideast
China, North Korea Running Missile Export Business To Mideast
Quote:
The North Korean launch of seven missiles last week might be going to the Security Council. But don't expect much to happen. China is expected to veto any threat of council sanctions.
U.S. intelligence sources said China and North Korea have essentially become partners in missile production and export. The sources said the two countries cooperate in missile programs in Iran, Syria and Yemen and used to operate in Libya as well.
China and North Korea have also been collaborating in nuclear exports throughout the Middle East. The sources said China helped build a zirconium production plant in Isfahan. The plant has been preparing nuclear fuel rods essential for the production of fissile material for a nuclear bomb.
The sources said China and North Korea plan to export a range of missile and nuclear components to Iran over the next few months. In late 2005, a North Korean ship docked in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas with at least 12 intermediate-range missiles.
At the same time, a senior Iranian official flew to Pyongyang to seek augmented nuclear and missile cooperation with North Korea. The sources said that in exchange Iran offered crude oil and natural gas to Pyongyang.
The result was a North Korean project to construct nuclear warheads for missiles. The underground facility is said be located in the Khojeer mountains near Teheran.
