A new U.S. intelligence report says that North Korea remains intent on reaping revenue through missile exports, the Yonhap News Agency reported today (see GSN, Feb. 28).
The regime has seen a drop in sales linked to its heightened isolation on the world stage, according to the declassified report released yesterday by the U.S. deputy national intelligence director.
"North Korea remains committed to selling missiles and related technology to foreign customers," giving those nations a boost in the development of longer-range weapons, the report says.
"Although sales have declined to most customers due to North Korea's increasing international isolation, its relationships with Iran and Syria remain strong and of principal concern," it adds (see GSN, Jan. 30, 2007, and Feb. 22).
"We remain concerned about North Korea's potential for exporting nuclear materials and technology," the report says, restating the U.S. intelligence community's "moderate confidence" that the regime today is operating a uranium enrichment program (see GSN, Feb. 28).
North Korea is both an importer and exporter of missile materials, according to the report. While "nearly self-sufficient" in the development and production of ballistic missiles, Pyongyang "continues to procure needed raw material and components from various foreign sources," it says.
North Korean missiles being deployed today possess a greater range and sophistication than older models, the assessment says (Yonhap News Agency, March 4).