Posted on 10/16/2010 1:49:12 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The North Korean military parade last weekend does more than give world exposure to the heir apparent to Pyongyangs leadership. It also revealed a new road-mobile ballistic missile a variant of the BM-25 Musudan with a projected range of 3,000-4,000 km. (1,900-2,500 mi.).
Even more intriguing, North Koreas weaponry is showing design characteristics associated with the Shahab 3, Irans most advanced missile. Such evidence is leading some international analysts to the conclusion that the ballistic missile development ties between the two countries are active and producing improvements in the arsenals of both.
While it would seem doubtful that complete missiles or missile sections are being shipped given the close scrutiny by the West of North Korea shipping components and engineering data could move relatively easily by air and diplomatic pouch.
For years, Iran has been the junior partner in the relationship and used the conduit to acquire No-dong and other missile technologies to build its own systems. Now, Israeli officials have noted the first public emergence in North Korea of the BM-25 Musudan, a weapon they believe has already been supplied to Iran.
It is believed to the first time the road-mobile, liquid-fueled, intermediate-range ballistic missile has been shown to anyone outside the North Korean military. The public unveiling took place Oct. 10 during a military parade attended by the countrys leader, Kim Jong-il, and his son and apparent leader-designate, Kim Jong-un.
The BM-25 is a derivative of the Russian-designed, SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile, although it has been increased in length to add range. North Korea showed several of the missile and wheeled launchers during the parade, although the operational status remains uncertain owing to a lack of flight trials detected by outside observers.
(Excerpt) Read more at aviationweek.com ...
Ping
Thank you Ernst for the ping.
Nice post ErnstStavro!
You post great tech articles, thanks :-)
Actually the first missile trade between Iran and North Korea took place in the late 1980s
When did it stop?
It is still going strong.
You are welcome!
I don’t read that source; however, Iran is always interesting.
I saw something on MEMRI about the Iranian government saying something about an accidental incident and then there’s this:
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/10/13/18-military-killed-in-iran-explosion.html
“8 military killed in Iran explosion”
Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 16:54 [IST]
SNIPPET: “Tehran, Oct 13: 18 guards from the powerful Revolutionary Guard force were killed in an explosion in Iran’s military base on Oct 12.
According the country’s domestic media report, 14 other Guard troops were wounded in the blast at the military base, which was situated in 300 miles southwest of the capital, Tehran.
As per the report, a fire, which spread to the ammunition depot, caused the massive explosion in the military depot.”
Oh, okay. Thanks!
(I hadn’t heard about it earlier, so thought I’d mention it, but I figured you would have heard about it already. The article I read seemed to be suggesting it was likely sabotage, so I thought you’d be interested if you hadn’t seen something about it earlier.)
Anyone?
No?
OK, hands up, anyone who thought Obama would hit a Muslim or Stalinist government to prevent the massacre of Asian capitalists or Jews.
Anyone?
THANK YOU Seadog Bytes.
I’ve been working on projects so it’s easy for me to to miss stuff.
I’m very glad you pinged me.
According to WMD Insights, the first meeting between Iran and North Korea was in 1986.
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