Russia sells missile technology to North Korea Friday, June 30, 2000 CENTRAL ASIA | Russia is selling ballistic missile technology to North Korea and providing nuclear weapons technology to Iran, the Washington Times said on Friday. Russia's latest weapons proliferation activities were confirmed in high-level intelligence reports completed earlier this month and sent to senior U.S. officials, the paper said. National Security Agency electronic interceptions over the past few months and noted in a June 8 intelligence report provided to officials said that missile component companies in Russia and Uzbekistan, in Central Asia, were manufacturing parts and "cooperating" in the sale of the components to North Korea, said the Times report. "The parts being sold included a special aluminum alloy, laser gyroscopes used in missile guidance and connectors and relays used in missile electronics," senior U.S. officials told the paper. The intelligence report identified the North Korean company involved in the sale but asked the newspaper not to publish its name. The report did not identify the Russian and Uzbek companies. News of the proliferation activity comes just weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a joint Russia-NATO missile defense shield, after President Bill Clinton traveled to Moscow for talks on a range of issues, including the U.S. missile defense plan. "This intelligence shows the Russians are playing both sides of the fence," a senior U.S. official told the paper. "They are talking missile defense while helping boost the missile threat." The NSA also said that Russia was collaborating with a North Korean missile company in sending Scud B missile components to the Middle East state of Yemen. The paper said officials familiar with the report explained that the gyroscopes for North Korean Scud B missiles were first sold to North Korea's Changgwang Sinyong company in Kazakhstan and then resold to Yemen. Though the administration announced earlier this month that, in response to the limited success of the first North-South Korea summit since the Korean War, it would lift some sanctions against Pyongyang, the Changgwang Sinyong company, officials said, was still under restrictions. Meanwhile, a third NSA report from June 8 stated that Russia is sending tritium gas to a nuclear weapons research center in Tehran. Tritium is a radioactive gas — an isotope of hydrogen. Its primary use is to enhance the explosive power of nuclear warheads. Moscow is reportedly assisting Iran in the development of a nuclear power plant but has consistently denied it is helping Tehran create nuclear weapons. Nuclear experts said tritium has other limited uses besides that for weapons. However, one expert told the paper that its delivery to a nuclear research facility would likely indicate it is being used for weapons. "The well-known utilization of tritium is for enhancing the performance of nuclear weapons," Robert Barker, a nuclear weapons specialist, told the Times. "This is an issue of concern and one would expect Iran to be very forthcoming in providing assurances about what it is being used for." The new information about Moscow's help with both missile programs is likely to strengthen U.S. resolve to construct a ballistic missile defense shield, other experts said. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
