Iran Receives North Korean 'Missile Shipment'

Persian Journal ^ | 4/30/06

[jonatron]

Iran has received a shipment of missiles from North Korea that are capable of reaching Europe, according to Israel's military intelligence chief.

Known in the West as BM-25s, the Russian-designed missiles have a range of around 2,500 km (1,500 miles), giving them a longer reach than the Iranian-made Shihab-4 missiles which are capable of hitting Israel.

The intelligence chief, Major-General Amos Yadlin, was quoted by Israel's Haaretz newspaper as saying in a lecture on Wednesday that some BM-25s had arrived in Iran.

The BM-25 was originally manufactured in the Soviet Union, where it was known as the SSN6, a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Haaretz reported.

After the Russians decommissioned the SSN6, the missiles were sold to North Korea, which adapted them to carry a heavier payload, the newspaper's military affairs correspondent said.

In February, a German diplomat, citing his country's intelligence data, confirmed a German newspaper report that said Iran had purchased 18 disassembled BM-25s from North Korea.

Israel has been urging the international community to pressure Iran to halt its nuclear programme as well as its efforts to obtain long-range missiles.

Iran, the world's fourth largest producer of crude oil, says its nuclear programme is a peaceful project to provide electricity.

Israel is widely believed to have more than 200 nuclear warheads. It declines to comment on its atomic programme, saying only it will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East.

[zerosix]

I'd say that it's high time certain people take care of our Iranian/North Korean problem at one time!

[b4its2late]

I wonder what sea port these suckers where shipped through?

[mmercier]

I hope they got more than 18 of them, and I hope they use them before they get their nuclears delivered.

[dc-zoo]

That's probably also where their "new discovery" of uranium came from.

[SENTINEL]

I'm sure "our friends" in Dubai would have nothing to do with it ! </sarcasm>

[Spktyr]

Iran is going to be an easy solution (relatively speaking). North Korea is a much more complex problem - for example, we can take out NK, but we will absolutely lose Seoul and the entire Southeast Asia economy will collapse because of it.

Why? Because North Korea has over 25,000 artillery tubes and rockets pointed at Seoul. Many of those are thought to be loaded with bio or chem weapons. Not even a chain of Patriots or Phalanxes could stop more than a miniscule fraction of that steel rain. NK has set up a small but effective MAD system in Korea.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

They pre-paid their shipment...

[NJ_gent]

"I'd say that it's high time certain people take care of our Iranian/North Korean problem at one time!"

Unless you're talking about a full-scale nuclear strike against two separate sovereign nations with close ties to both Russia and China, what you're asking for is impossible.

[ClearCase_guy]

News I'd like to see:

"Faulty North Korean missiles explode after arriving in Iran. Most major Iranian cities and military installations vaporized. Film at 11."

[El Gato]

SS-N-6 was Soviet era Submarined launched ballistic missile. North Korea has reportedly modified the designed for shipboard launching, and have a ground silo launched version as well. The missile uses storable liquid fuel.

Whatever happened to those Al Qaeda mystery ships?

Not that Cuba and Chavez' Venezuela are within the threat launch footprint. Think someone could sneak a ship into that "red zone"?

[NJ_gent]

"Iran is going to be an easy solution (relatively speaking). North Korea is a much more complex problem - for example, we can take out NK, but we will absolutely lose Seoul and the entire Southeast Asia economy will collapse because of it."

Holy cow! Someone else with a clue of what's going on in that area! :)

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Soon, hopefully:

Iran Receives USA 'Missile Shipment'

[gopwinsin04]

In Colombian waters they could, I would be willing to bet.

[SampleMan]

Why aren't NK shipments mysteriously disappearing at sea? Pick some nice deep water (12,000 ft or more) and put a Mk-48 under the ship. Dead men tell no tales, and recovery of a ship at an unknown location in such deep water would be practically impossible.

[NJ_gent]

You did, however, forget about the million man regular army, two million reserves, 8 - 16 nuclear weapons, and massive numbers of short-medium range missiles (NoDong, Tae-po Dong/II). Of course, while they're obliterating Seoul with artillery, they could simply pepper all of Japan with NoDong and Tae-po Dong missiles, some possibly with a nuclear tip.

Any attack against North Korea would have to move every bit as quickly, quietly, and effectively as the Nazi invasion of Poland. We'd have to stealthily build up massive amounts of forces in the area and be prepared for huge (50,000+) losses and massive ($30 - $50 Billion+/day) expenses to take down North Korea quickly enough to prevent the complete destruction of all our allies in the area.

Of course, we could always launch a nuclear strike and hope China doesn't retaliate in kind (or use the opportunity to take Taiwan). In any case, we'll see civilian casualties on both sides adding up into the millions quite easily. Nothing will stem the tide of outrage and anger at the US for the collateral damage done.

Having said this, I think it's imperative that we act as soon as possible to destroy North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile technology and capability. Once they complete the Tae-po Dong III, they have true MAD capability with the full United States and have every bit as much power as China and Russia. Completion of the Tae-po Dong III means that military options to deal with North Korea become impossible, and terrorists around the world have an open market to purchase any weapons under the sun from their favorite provider.

[gaijin]

One Carter failure exports missiles to the other major Carter failure....

Wonder if the missiles went through THE PANAMA CANAL...?!

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

These people are crazy and suicidal.

We have to deal with Iran soon.

[oceanview]

give Japan nuclear weapons to check chinese and north korean power in the region. let them sort it out themselves. no one is going to use first strike nukes against the US or a US ally, they know what the consequences would be.

the younger generation in south korea is more open to unification with the north - let them have it.

[PghBaldy]

Yep. Another thing - President Bush is unlucky to have inherited many festering problems. The UN, IAEA, and past Presidents have either passed the buck, or been unaware. That's part of why it's so distrubing when Dems blame Bush. He came upon the burning house. He wasn't there when it was set.