‘Iran gives N. Korea missile boost’ Two pariah states reportedly increasing bilateral cooperation on weapons

I received these very important comments and analysis from one of our best Korea Hands regarding the Korea Herald article below on Iranian-north Korean cooperation.

Interesting quote below - but not accurate. Yes, there are Iranian rocket technicians in the DPRK - but they are there to learn, not to "help prepare." Iran does not have a three-stage missile yet - they plan to buy this one.

"Pyongyang has invited foreign experts for technological assistance to fix defects responsible for its failure in April, government sources told the local media. 

Since this summer, a few Iranian rocket technicians have reportedly stayed in the North to help prepare for a new long-range rocket launch slated for Dec. 10-22."

Now, the quote below is just funny. Iran DOES NOT HAVE any inter-continental ballistic missiles. And the only long-range missiles they have, they bought from North Korea! So, how could they have "better technology?"

Their satellite was a TWO-STAGE platfrom - and one of the stages was obviously designed for them by the North Koreans. Are these reporters just making this stuff up as they go along?

"Iran is known to have better technology in terms of the development of long-range rockets including inter-continental ballistic missiles while the North is a little ahead of Iran in terms of technology to develop nuclear arms and short- and mid-range missiles."

North Korea may have secured the help of rogue Ukraine scientists.  That is a much more viable theory as to why they believe they have corrected issues with their last missile launch.  The "Iran connection" is quite simply proliferator (North Korea) and customer (Iran).  It is silly for anyone to assume (based on zero evidence) that Iran is "helping" North Korea with their missile programs - in fact, it is quite the opposite (it is North Korea selling Iran the technology).
 

V/R

Dave

‘Iran gives N. Korea missile boost’

Two pariah states reportedly increasing bilateral cooperation on weapons

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121204000966

Published : 2012-12-05 00:22
Updated : 2012-12-05 00:34

Since its botched rocket launch in April, North Korea has been upgrading its missile technology with assistance from foreign countries reportedly including Iran. 

Pyongyang has invited foreign experts for technological assistance to fix defects responsible for its failure in April, government sources told the local media.

Since this summer, a few Iranian rocket technicians have reportedly stayed in the North to help prepare for a new long-range rocket launch slated for Dec. 10-22.

Though the communist state has made strides in missile technology, experts say that it has yet to secure key technology required to control the speed and direction of a long-range rocket following its lift-off.

Seoul officials presume that Iranian experts might have helped the North gain the much-needed technology.

It is said that Tehran and Pyongyang, both under international sanctions for their controversial nuclear programs, have cooperated on missile development for several decades. 

(Continued at the link below)

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121204000966

Iran stations defense staff at North Korean site

Perhaps it is for commercial reasons that the north is going to make another test rocket launch.  I am sure Iran really wants this capability.  We should be assessing the collaboration between north Korea and Iran to determine potential capabilities.  But I think if they do conduct the test then the relations with Iran (probably because of the cash) will be deemed more important than the outcome of the ROK Presidential election.

V/R

Dave

Iran stations defense staff at North Korean site

By REUTERS

12/02/2012 05:42

http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=294244

Japanese news agency: Iran stationed staff in N. Korea in an effort to strengthen cooperation in missile, nuclear development.

TOKYO - Iran has stationed defense staff in North Korea since late October apparently to strengthen cooperation in missile and nuclear development, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported on Sunday, citing a Western diplomatic source.

The report came as North Korea said on Saturday it would carry out its second rocket launch of 2012 between December 10 and December 22, near the first anniversary of the death of young leader Kim Jong-un's father.

The Iranian mission, Kyodo said, is made up of four experts from Iran's Ministry of Defense and firms close to it. Citing the source, it said they were staying at a military facility 85 km (53 miles) from the North Korean border with China.

(Continued at the link below)

http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=294244

North Korea Says It Will Test Long-Range Rocket in December

So it appears that the regime either thinks it can influence the outcome of the ROK Presidential election or it thinks that this rocket test launch is more important for its security, for deterrence, and for potential commercial purposes than the potential for the reinstitution of the ROK Sunshine Policy.

V/R

Dave

December 1, 2012

North Korea Says It Will Test Long-Range Rocket in December

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea announced Saturday that it would attempt to launch a long-range rocket in mid-December, a defiant move just eight months after a failed April bid was widely condemned as a violation of a U.N. ban against developing its nuclear and missile programs.

The launch, set for Dec. 10 to 22, is likely to heighten already strained tensions with Washington and Seoul as the United States prepares for Barack Obama's second term as U.S. president and South Korea holds its own presidential election on Dec. 19.

This would be North Korea's second launch attempt under leader Kim Jong Un, who took power following his father Kim Jong Il's death nearly a year ago. The announcement by North Korea's space agency followed speculation overseas about stepped-up activity at North Korea's west coast launch pad captured in satellite imagery.

A spokesman for North Korea's Korean Committee for Space Technology said scientists have "analyzed the mistakes" made in the failed April launch and improved the precision of its Unha rocket and Kwangmyongsong satellite, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

KCNA said the launch was a request of late leader Kim Jong Il, whose Dec. 17, 2011, death North Koreans are expected to mark with some fanfare. The space agency said the rocket would be mounted with a polar-orbiting Earth observation satellite, and maintained its right to develop a peaceful space program.

Washington considers North Korea's rocket launches to be veiled covers for tests of technology for long-range missiles designed to strike the United States, and such tests are banned by the United Nations.

(Continued at the link below)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/12/01/world/asia/ap-as-nkorea-rocket-launch.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&seid=auto&_r=0&pagewanted=print

Countdown to Pyongyang’s Missile Launch: Unha Rocket Stages at Assembly Building

Will the north launch before the ROK Presidential election?  There is imagery in the article at the 38 North website at the link below.
V/R
Dave

Countdown to Pyongyang’s Missile Launch: Unha Rocket Stages at Assembly Building

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By 38 North

http://38north.org/2012/11/sohae112912/

A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Nick Hansen.

Summary

Preparations for a new North Korean rocket launch appear to be underway at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station located on its west coast. Based on DigitalGlobe satellite imagery released on November 23 and 26, trailers carrying the first two stages of an Unha (also referred to as the Taepodong-2) rocket were spotted parked near the main missile assembly building, a clear indicator that the rocket stages are being checked out before moving to the pad for an eventual launch.[1]

Other launch-related activities are ongoing. Empty tanks spotted at four locations indicate that the propellant buildings at the pad have likely been filled in preparation for the fueling of the rocket. The instrumentation site for monitoring a launch is still incomplete—one temporary building with a possible antenna has been established at the site, but instrumentation trailers are still parked near the assembly building. There is increased activity at buildings used to house VIPs in the past, including construction of temporary covered parking structures. Additionally, major improvements have been made to the observation building and grounds.

Exactly why Pyongyang is moving towards firing a long-range rocket at this time of year, contrary to past practice when launches typically occurred in spring or summer, remains unclear. Speculation has focused on North-South competition prompted by the South Korean satellite launch that was planned for November 29. If Pyongyang follows past practice in preparing for a launch, it could be ready to fire a rocket as early as the end of the first week in December. However, past practice has also been to announce dates and hours for sea or air closure areas for the rocket’s first and second stage impact areas, and to file for a frequency plan for a satellite in advance. Since that has not happened yet, the window would appear to be closing for an early launch.

(Continued at the link below)

http://38north.org/2012/11/sohae112912/