Thats what we need, a soon-tobe muslim country with missiles... hoorah
This is utter madness. Nigeria is dirt-poor and faces no external threat -- nor any internal threat which could be countered with missiles. Nigeria is already the recognized regional power in central/West Africa, so it doesn't need missiles to attain that status.
If Nigeria's motives for acquiring NK missiles are not obvious, NK's reasons for selling them are. Pyongyang needs hard currency.
If we can't get a UNSC resolution authorizing a missile quarantine to Nigeria, then I suppose we'll have to quarantine Nigeria ourselves. Too bad we buy a lot of Nigerian oil.
I just hope we're not too stretched out by the Iraq war to be able to take on N. Korea, a really dangerous enemy that actually DOES pose an imminent threat.
some Nigeria background
The article is wrong to say "Nigeria, which is not at war or under any known threat from other countries, said any missile help would be used for "peacekeeping" and to protect its territory. It said it was not seeking nuclear technology or weapons of mass destruction." Nigeria has a border dispute with Cameroon. Kofi met with some of those fools today to "work" on it.
Some strange things are afoot in Nigeria. I collected some articles below that illustrate an interesting trend.
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Wednesday, October 20, 1999 Published at 00:54 GMT 01:54 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/480055.stm World: Africa Aid boost for Nigeria
The American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, says the United States wants to quadruple its aid to Nigeria.
Speaking on national television, Mrs Albright said the United States wanted to help Nigeria transform into a democracy.
The increase - from $27m - would make Nigeria the largest recipient of US aid in Africa.
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IRAQ CRISIS BULLETIN MARCH 22, 2003
http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:wjRIxSirWy8J:www.iraqcrisisbulletin.com/archives/032203/html/us_suspends_military_aid_to_ni.html+nigeria+us+aid&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 US SUSPENDS MILITARY AID TO NIGERIA, DENIES ITS BECAUSE OF IRAQ
DAVID GOLLUST
STATE DEPARTMENT
The Bush administration Friday confirmed a suspension of US military aid to Nigeria, but it is denying Nigerian charges that it is retaliation for that country's opposition to the US-led war on Iraq.
The State Department says the aid cut-off was mandated by Congress because of human rights concerns about Nigeria's military, and that its timing at the start of the war against Iraq is purely coincidental.
The comments here follow a statement Friday by a Nigerian foreign ministry official that the US move was an act of "sheer intimidation" because of Nigeria's position against the war, and his government would not be "dictated to" by any other country.
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1/28/2004
http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/20040129news17.html Nigeria to Work for Peace - Obasanjo
President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria will continue to work for global peace in the pursuit of common, mutual security and prosperity.
The President was speaking to the visiting Vice President of North Korea, Mr Yang Hyong Sop at State House, Abuja yesterday.
1/28/2004
More Imported Goods for Ban Soon - Obasanjo
http://allafrica.com/stories/200401280308.html President Olusegun Obasanj yesterday declared that the Federal Government's policy of banning importation of goods produced in the country, will continue.
1/28/2004
Annan to Host Talks Nigeria-Cameroon Summit Meeting On Border Dispute
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will host talks at the end of this month between the leaders of Nigeria and Cameroon as part of continuing efforts to resolve a border dispute between the two countries, a UN spokesman announced today.