Posted on 05/18/2011 7:49:55 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
China, Iran Deny N.Korean Missile Link
China and Iran are dismissing a report that says North Korea is still selling ballistic missile technology. The foreign ministries from both countries on Tuesday rejected the allegations made in a United Nations panel's report.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters China's own expert never signed-off on the panel's report, and said it has yet to be adopted by the UN Security Council.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast also rejected the report's, which says Iran bought North Korean nuclear technology. He said Iran does not need technological help from other countries.
The unpublished report was submitted to the Security Council last week. It cannot be made public without the unanimous consent of the council's 15 members. Copies of the report have been leaked to several major news organizations. It charges banned technology was transferred aboard flights of Air Koryo and Iran Air -- North Korea and Iran's national airlines.
Diplomats say the flights passed through a third country, which they identified as China. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang did not comment on that accusation.
The UN Security Council imposed sanctions against North Korea after two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Iran is also under international sanctions because of its uranium enrichment activities, which the United States and its allies suspect are weapons-related. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
China has in the past attempted to block reports critical of North Korea, and Russia acted last week to block an expert panel report on Iran. Both Moscow and Beijing have argued that the United Nations should not impinge on the sovereignty of member countries.
Mega Axis of Evil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.