RFI - Iranian Military Experts in Pyongyang

credit: RFI

Translation Courtesy: Buenos Aires Translator - Professor Winn

NOTE: Professor Winn is a trained observer of international relations and certified translator. These unique skills provide his loyal readers expanded insights distinct from other global security blogs.

Analysis: While the article dismisses the Iranian-North Korean linkage as fitting former US President's "axle of evil," this linkage is precisely what worries global security observers no matter the historical ties between the two countries.



Iran is assisting North Korea perfect its ballistic missile technology. These two rogue nations are negative regional actors, but their technological gains propose wider global security challenges given the increasing range of their missiles.

The proliferation of ballistic missile technology wedded with nuclear ambitions is a deadly combination in the hands of unstable leaders in Tehran and Pyongyang.

The world waits to see just how much Iran has helped North Korea improve its "satellite launch" program. The anticipated early April launch is only a few days away.

Translated Article from the original French

RFI - Des experts militaires iraniens à Pyongyang

Iran/ North Korea
Iranian military experts in Pyongyang

by RFI

Article published 03/29/2009 Last updated on 03/29/2009 at 10:36 UT

Iranian experts are in North Korea to assist the April launch of a “satellite” according to Pyongyang and a disguised missile by the United States, Japan, and South Korea, reports the Japanese newspaper, Sankei Shimbun, on Sunday, citing anonymous sources. Fifteen Iranian missile technology experts arrived in North Korea in early March carrying a letter from the Iranian president to the North Korean leader.

On February 2, Iran placed its first satellite into orbit with its Safir-2 rocket, fuelling Western worries that Tehran would use the technology to develop its ballistic missile program. (Photo: Reuters)

On February 2, Iran placed its first satellite into orbit with its Safir-2 rocket, fuelling Western worries that Tehran would use the technology to develop its ballistic missile program. (Photo: Reuters)
(Photo: Reuters)

If Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote Kim Jong-il, it is does signal George Bush’s axis of evil, but underscores the important cooperation between the two countries in the fields of ballistic missiles and space. Iran and North Korea have worked together in these fields for more than 20 years.

Since the 1980s, Iran showed interest in the North Korean Hwaseong-5, nothing more than an improvement on the Soviet Scud. In June 1987 at the end of the Iran-Iraq War, Tehran bought 100 for $500 million. It was renamed Shahab-1 in Iran with a range of 300 kilometers.

In 1993, North Korea prepared a new missile : the Rodong-1 with a range of 1,500 kilometers. In March, Iranian General Mantequei, head of the Revolution’s guided missile program, was invited for its test. Delighted, Iran bought 150 Rodongs and renamed them Shahab-2 and Shahab-3.

At the time, Tehran was not just satisfied with buying North Korean technology. Iranian engineers developed their own ballistic missiles with oil dollars. North Korea was not their only seller and they soon overtook their client.

Today Iran is more advanced than North Korea. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad takes pride in recently launching a satellite into space. Iranians are assisting North Korea launch its much-touted Taepodong-2 missile with a supposed range of 6,700 kilometers.

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Translation Courtesy: Buenos Aires Translator, Professor Winn

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