North Korea and Military Proliferation to Iran: An International Security Dilemma by Dr. Bruce E. Bechtol Jr.

This is arguably the most authoritative open source analysis of north Korean proliferation activities with Iran.  It is extremely well sourced analysis.  Unfortunately it is not online so you have to download the PDF from my dropbox at the link below.  It is well worth the read for anyone interested in north Korea's proliferation.

Summary:  This article looks at North Korea’s military proliferation to Iran – all of it.  For those who have questions about North Korea’s long history of proliferation (which is ongoing) to Iran, or perhaps even question that there is a robust proliferation relationship this article will help answer them.

Bruce E. Bechtol Jr. “North Korea and Military Proliferation to Iran: An International

Security Dilemma,” ChiMoKoJa – Histories of China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan, Vol. 2, (2016), 71-95.

Download the 30 page article here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x5vcorxedlkta5f/North%20Korea%20Iran%20article%20latest%20draft%202016.pdf?dl=0

 ChiMoKoJa – Histories of China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan

http://www.cambridgescholars.com/chimokoja-histories-of-china-mongolia-korea-and-japan

TREASURY IMPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

I suppose this is part of our proportional response the President said would we take (and I only hope it is part of the response as we need more).  I am pleased to see this as it highlights the illicit activity of the regime going on around the world. However sanctions do little against north Korea and really do not put sufficient pressure on the regime or Kim Jong-un personally.  As I wrote here (http://maxoki161.blogspot.com/2014/12/brief-thoughts-on-responses-to-north.html)  I would like to see concrete action taken against the north's global illicit network by having nations enforce their laws and either arresting north Koreans conducting illegal activity or expelling them if they are abusing their diplomatic status to gain hard currency for the Kim Family Regime through their illicit activities.  We should really use our diplomatic actions and intelligence and law enforcement contacts to share information and ask for international support in stopping north Korean counterfeiting (money and drugs), illicit drug trafficking, and weapons proliferation.  In addition, I do not think the regime will feel sufficient economic pain through sanctions.  That will not happen until we implement another action such as we did with Banco Delta Asia. To have any chance of influencing Kim Family Regime behavior we have to go after their money.  Sanctions, while important in sending an international message, are just not strong enough to influence regime behavior.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

EMBARGOED FOR 2:00 P.M. EST: January 2, 2015

CONTACT: Hagar Chemali, Treasury Public Affairs (202) 622-1343

TREASURY IMPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Action Targets the Government of North Korea in Response to Recent Provocations

WASHINGTON – In response to the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s numerous provocations, particularly the recent cyber-attack targeting Sony Pictures Entertainment and the threats against movie theaters and moviegoers, President Obama today signed an Executive Order (E.O.) authorizing the imposition of sanctions against the Government of North Korea and the Workers’ Party of Korea.  This step reflects the ongoing commitment of the United States to hold North Korea accountable for its destabilizing, destructive and repressive actions, particularly its efforts to undermine U.S. cyber-security and intimidate U.S. businesses and artists exercising their right of freedom of speech.

Pursuant to the authorities of this new E.O., Treasury today has designated three entities and 10 individuals for being agencies or officials of the North Korean government.

“Today’s actions are driven by our commitment to hold North Korea accountable for its destructive and destabilizing conduct.  Even as the FBI continues its investigation into the cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment, these steps underscore that we will employ a broad set of tools to defend U.S. businesses and citizens, and to respond to attempts to undermine our values or threaten the national security of the United States,” said Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew.  “The actions taken today under the authority of the President’s new Executive Order will further isolate key North Korean entities and disrupt the activities of close to a dozen critical North Korean operatives.  We will continue to use this broad and powerful tool to expose the activities of North Korean government officials and entities."

Targeting the Government of North Korea and the Workers’ Party of Korea

The E.O. signed today escalates financial pressure on the Government of North Korea, including its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, by authorizing targeted sanctions that would deny designated persons access to the U.S. financial system and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions or dealings with it.

The E.O. authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to apply sanctions against officials of the Government of North Korea and the Workers’ Party of Korea, and persons determined to be owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, or to have provided material support for the Government of North Korea, Workers’ Party of Korea, or any other person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the Order.

Designations under the New E.O.

The following three entities are designated under the E.O. signed by the President today for being controlled entities of the Government of North Korea:

·         Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB): RGB is North Korea’s primary intelligence organization and is involved, inter alia, in a range of activities to include conventional arms trade proscribed by numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions. RGB was previously listed in the annex to E.O. 13551 on August 30, 2010.  RGB is responsible for collecting strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence for the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces. Many of North Korea’s major cyber operations run through RGB.

·         Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID): KOMID is North Korea’s primary arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons.  KOMID, a North Korean state-owned entity, was previously listed in the annex to E.O. 13382 on July 1, 2005 for its role in North Korea’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  It was also sanctioned by the United Nations in April 2009.  KOMID has offices in multiple countries around the world and facilitates weapons sales for the North Korean government.

·         Korea Tangun Trading Corporation is subordinate to the Second Academy of Natural Sciences and is primarily responsible for the procurement of commodities and technologies to support North Korea's defense research and development programs, including materials that are controlled under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) or the Australia Group.  Tangun Trading Corporation was designated by the Department of State pursuant to E.O. 13382 in September 2009 and was designated by the United Nations in 2009.  The identifier information for this designated entity is also being updated to include several aliases it uses to operate internationally.  The new aliases for Korea Tangun Trading Corporation include Ryung Seng Trading Corporation, Ryungseng Trading Corporation, and Ryungsong Trading Corporation.

The following 10 individuals are designated under the E.O. signed by the President today for their status as officials of the North Korean government:

·         Kil Jong Hun and Kim Kwang Yon are officials of the North Korean government and represent the southern African interests of KOMID. Kil JongHun is KOMID’s Representative in Namibia and an official of the NorthKorean government.

·         Jang Song Chol is a KOMID representative in Russia and an official of the North Korean government.  He is working with individuals in Sudan who are procuring materials from him.

·         Yu Kwang Ho is an official of the North Korean government.

·         Kim Yong Chol is a KOMID Representative in Iran and an official of the North Korean Government.

·         Jang Yong Son is a KOMID Representative in Iran and an official of the North Korean government.

·         Kim Kyu is the KOMID External Affairs Officer and an official of the NorthKorean government.

·         Ryu Jin and Kang Ryong are KOMID officials operating in Syria and areofficials of the North Korean government.

·         Kim Kwang Chun is a Korea Tangun Trading Corporation representative inShenyang, China and an official of the North Korean government.

For identifier information on the individuals and entities designated today, please click here.

Not enough has been written about this but that is probably because few study and track the north's proliferation activities around the world to the depth and detail that Dr. Bechtol does.

V/R

Dave

N. Korean support for Syrian chemical programs By Bruce E. Bechtol Jr.  http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/09/197_142554.html As the world looks on in shock and horror, the Syrian regime has on several occasions used chemical weapons to inflict casualties on its own people.  Of this there is no doubt.  These events have been widely reported in the international press.  But what has not been widely reported in the press is the fact that North Korea is the main supplier to Syria, of not only chemical weapons, but the platforms that carry them (ballistic missiles). North Korea has designed and built at least two chemical weapons facilities in Syria.  Indeed, despite the lack of statements coming from Washington ― either from the White House or the Pentagon ― regarding North Korea’s role, Pyongyang appears to be Syria’s main provider of chemical weapons.  This is a role that is not new.  North Korea has been proliferating chemical weapons and Scud missiles that can be used as platforms to launch them since the 1990s. While North Korea’s role has been a constant one, Pyongyang’s profitable proliferation to Syria appears to have been stepped up in several ways since the civil war began in that nation.  In addition to providing protective suits, Pyongyang has been providing technical expertise for fabricating warheads and weaponizing the chemicals, and supplied parts vital for the process of matching the warheads to the missiles. It is important to note that, much like the chemical weapons factories, North Korea has also built at least one facility to fabricate Scud missiles in Syria.  The facility continues to function today ― as do the chemical weapons facilities ― with the aid of North Korean advisors. But there is far more.  According to Middle Eastern security officials, the North Koreans collaborated with the Iranians to direct an operations room that is advising Syria on its air defense systems ― an important role, as Syria braces for attacks from the United States. North Korea has also reportedly stepped up the number of personnel who are actually on the ground advising and supporting Syrian military forces.  As the Syrian military uses its weaponry against its own people, North Korean technical experts and logistics personnel are on the ground to supply badly needed repairs or new components, for both missiles and artillery ― in addition to the reported re-supply of small arms. Non-governmental organizations have spotted North Korean officers (who reportedly speak Arabic) at a number of locations, including chemical weapons facilities, and defense factories near Aleppo.  At one facility, there are so many North Koreans that they are said to live in an exclusive compound ― complete with a manicured lawn and a swimming pool. The United Nations Security Council, in a document released in 2012, definitively stated that the North Koreans have ― including during 2012 ― been actively engaged in proliferating chemical weapons technology, ballistic missile components, and expertise to maintain these weapons.  This has enabled the Syrians to effectively use these weapons against its own people. With the North Koreans providing Syria with ballistic missile components, small arms, chemical weapons and the expertise to use these weapons, and a stepped-up role in the number of advisors on the ground, one must wonder, why is the United States ― and the world ― not paying more attention?  (Continued at the link below) http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/09/197_142554.html

North Korea’s Illegal Weapons Pipeline Flows On

I am grateful to the Wall Street Journal for maintaining visibility on north Korea's weapons exports which are of course key to regime survival and also support enemies of the US and the free world.  Note at the very least China turns a blind eye these activities.

V/R

Dave

• Updated November 27, 2012, 9:18 p.m. ET

North Korea’s Illegal Weapons Pipeline Flows On

By JAY SOLOMON in Washington, YUKA HAYASHI in Tokyo and COLUM MURPHY in Shanghai

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323830404578144981537771060.html?mod=WSJAsia_hpp_LEFTTopStories

Illegal shipments of missile technology and weapons from North Korea have flowed unabated under the leadership of Kim Jong Eun, dashing Western hopes that Pyongyang’s new leader might moderate his country’s aggressive proliferation activities.

Ships or planes bound for Myanmar and Syria and loaded with weapons-related equipment originating in North Korea have been diverted or blocked in recent months, U.S., Asian and Arab officials say. The United Nations has imposed sanctions against Pyongyang’s weapons trade.

The disclosures come amid new fears that North Korea is preparing for its second long-range missile launch since Mr. Kim took power in late 2011. Satellite images this week showed increased activity at North Korea’s satellite-launch station on its western coast.

The Obama administration and allied governments have been hoping to test Mr. Kim’s willingness to more directly engage Washington and perhaps open up his isolated nation. U.S. officials note that the younger Kim is the first North Korean leader who didn’t live through the 1950-53 Korean War. And the Swiss-educated dictator, believed to have been born in 1983 or 1984, has initiated some economic reforms, reorganized the military and shown a liking for Western pop music since succeeding his late father, Kim Jong Il.

Nonetheless, North Korea’s continued arms exports and missile tests are signs that the younger Mr. Kim has little desire—or ability—to change Pyongyang’s roguish behavior. Indeed, U.S. and Asian officials said they are still not certain if Mr. Kim has fully consolidated power over North Korea’s generals. And the cash-strapped North is desperately in need of the hard currency it gets from arms exports.

U.S. officials believe North Korea has remained one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s closest partners, helping develop Damascus’s missile and chemical-weapons programs even as a civil war has engulfed the Arab country. U.N. inspectors believe Damascus and Pyongyang secretly built a nuclear reactor in eastern Syria before Israeli jets destroyed the facility in 2007.

(Continued at the link below)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323830404578144981537771060.html?mod=WSJAsia_hpp_LEFTTopStories