NORTH KOREA HAS frozen its No-Dong programme aimed at developing a ground-ground missile with a range of over 1,000km (540nm), according to Israeli sources. The possibility of exports of the weapon has caused considerable disquiet in Western and Asian capitals.
The No-Dong programme began in the mid-1980s, with the first test launch of the missile in May 1993. Iran has poured large sums of money into the programme and intended to procure the missile when it reached operational status.
The Israeli sources say that the programme has been halted either because it ran into technical difficulties, or because of heavy pressure from the USA.
The North Koreans have transferred some No-Dong know-how to Iran as a partial return of its investment in the programme.
The Iranian defence industries organisation is now building a production centre for Scud B and C ballistic missiles, with North Korean assistance. The Iranians are also purchasing missile technologies from China.
Source: Flight International