N. Korea: Taiwan Defense Ministry, "We don't want N. Korean missiles"(N. Kor-Taiwan connection)

Yonhap News ^ | 07/19/05 | Pil Soo-yon

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

Taiwan Defense Ministry, "We don't want N. Korean missiles"

(Taipei, Yonhap News) correspondent Pil Soo-yon -- Taiwan's Defense Ministry, in response to an allegation that N. Korea attempted to sell its missiles to Taiwan, commented, "It is absurd to say that we would buy from N. Korea, already designated as a dangerous country, what we can already produce. We don't want N. Korean missiles."

According to July 19th reports from Taiwanese media, all pertinent government institutions, Taiwan's Defense Ministry, State Security Bureau, and Foreign Ministry , responded, "We know nothing (on the matter,)" when asked about the latest report from Wolgan Chosun (note: from its August issue. It is an well-known monthly news magazine in S. Korea,) that a former N. Korean member of its Supreme People's Assembly, who escaped from N. Korea and defected to S. Korea, claimed that he visited Taiwan to sell (N. Korean) missiles.

Lian-he-bao,a Taiwanese daily, reported, quoting an anonymous high-level official at Defense Ministry, "Allegations on weapons sale are sometimes true, sometimes false, sometimes possible, or sometimes impossible. I have no idea whether the N. Korean Assembly member visited Taiwan, whom he met, what he tried to sell." 

The official continued, "N. Korean (missile) technology is not great. Since the country is designated as a dangerous terrorist nation, there is absolutely nothing to be gained from trading with N. Korea. It is absurd to say that we would import from N. Korea what we can already produce. The important point is that we do not want N. Korean missiles."

However, Zi-you-shi-bao, another Taiwanese daily, quoting Li Zai-fang, the head of Taiwan Interest Office in S. Korea(Taiwan's diplomatic mission,) "Major weapons suppliers for Taiwan are U.S. and European countries. However, we may not rule out the possibility that there have been contacts with weapons suppliers from other countries, for research and development purpose or need for certain weapon systems."  

Li went on to say, "We cannot rule out the possibility that the N. Korean's testimony is true. Still, most of reports on allegations of Taiwan's arms purchase from foreign countries have turned out to be groundless."

2005/07/19

 

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

Hmm... N. Korea doublecrossing China to earn extra hard currency? Kim Jong-il had better hope that China dismisses it out of hand. Otherwise, his expected lifespan will be projected downward once more.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Taiwan is letting a little bit of news out in this announcement ("what we can already produce").

[snowsislander]

Taiwan is letting a little bit of news out in this announcement ("what we can already produce").

And if this is disinformation, then hopefully China will at least waste some resources checking on it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If South Africa could get the A bomb by the early 1960s, I'm pretty sure Taiwan could too.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #3

True.

[TigerLikesRooster]

a further update:(from another news article) The N. Korean mentioned above escaped N. Korea around May(,2005.) He is under investigation by NIS (S. Korean intelligence service) in a "third country." According to his testimony, N. Korea made 1-ton nuclear device using 4kg of plutonium. However, N. Korean scientists are not sure if it will work. Because of this, they are also working on another design, a miniaturized version weighing 500kg. The defector is from Maine Industry Institute under 2nd Economic Committee, which oversees N. Korea's defense industry. Contrary to what the name suggests, Marine Industry Institute develops, manufactures, and sells arms.

[Paul_Denton]

Taiwan can easily make its own ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads. Maybe Taiwan was using it to warn China?

[tallhappy]

If South Africa could get the A bomb by the early 1960s, I'm pretty sure Taiwan could too.

That A-bomb was built in Taiwan.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I heard it was made in Israel.

[tallhappy]

It was supposedly a joint effort between Taiwan, Israel and S. Africa.

Israel provided atomic material, Taiwan constructed it and S. Africa tested it. I have no idea if this is true, but back in the Soviet days when it supposedly happened, the Soviets said it happened and railed against it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Interesting details. I'll bet Taiwan didn't give it up like SA...

[Paul_Denton]

It was supposedly a joint effort between Taiwan, Israel and S. Africa. Israel provided atomic material, Taiwan constructed it and S. Africa tested it. I have no idea if this is true, but back in the Soviet days when it supposedly happened, the Soviets said it happened and railed against it.

I belive it was known as the Vela incident.