U.S. concerned about N. Korea's enhanced missile capability: report

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, June 17 (Yonhap) -- The United States is concerned about North
Korea's improving ballistic missile capability and its proliferation, a U.S.
military report said.

"Although both launches of the Taepodong 2 ended in failure, the April 2009
flight demonstrated a more complete performance than the July 2006 launch," said
the report recently released by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.
"North Korea's continued progress in developing the Taepodong 2 clearly shows its
determination to achieve long-range ballistic missile and space launch
capabilities."
North Korea launched a long-range rocket on April 5, the second of its kind after
an earlier launch in July 2006. The North insists the latest launch was to orbit
a communications satellite, while the U.S. and its allies see the launch as a
cover for a ballistic missile test.
Missiles and other weapons are considered a major source of hard currency for the
impoverished North.
The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution to punish North Korea's nuclear
test last month, focusing on the North's weapons exports as well as financial
sanctions.
"The Taepodong 2 could be exported to other countries in the future," said the
report titled "Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat," adding "North Korea has
exported missile technology to other countries, including Iran and Pakistan."
A Pakistani nuclear scientist is suspected to have provided uranium-based nuclear
technology to North Korea in exchange for the North's missile technology.
A.Q. Khan was released earlier this year after having been under house arrest
since 2004 for his alleged role in providing nuclear technology to North Korea
and other countries. He recently disavowed earlier remarks confessing to having
played a part in the development of North Korea's nuclear program.
The report also said that the North's launch of a Taepodong 1 missile in 1998 was
intended to put a satellite into orbit.
"Although a small third stage failed to place the satellite in orbit, the
two-stage booster apparently performed successfully," the report said. "The
Taepodong 1 demonstrated technologies necessary for longer-range missile
development."
It also expressed concerns over a possible combination of North Korea's missile
and nuclear capabilities.
"North Korea has also admitted its possession of nuclear weapons," it said.
The communist state conducted its second nuclear test on May 25 after nearly
three years, inviting financial sanctions and an overall arms embargo from the
U.N. Security Council.
The North's recent provocations, including nuclear and missile tests, are widely
seen as part of efforts to facilitate a smooth transition of power from North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il to his 26-year-old third son, Jong-un.
Washington's Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the U.S.
intelligence community "assesses that North Korea probably conducted an
underground nuclear explosion in the vicinity of Punggye on May 25, 2009."
It estimated the explosion yielded "approximately a few kilotons."
Estimations of the yield vary from between four to 20 kilotons among countries
that have gauged the blast. The North's first nuclear detonation in 2006 measured
less than one kiloton. The atomic blast at Hiroshima in 1945 was the equivalent
of about 10 kilotons of TNT.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)