It seems that more and more things are shaking out of the Israeli raid from September the sixth, notably an overt connection between Syria and North Korea that has not been public knowledge before. Meanwhile, the Timesonline (UK) claims that Israeli commandos seized North Korean Nuclear materials in Syria.
More of North Korea and Syria
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Gee, the North Koreans can’t be trusted, no matter what they say or sign? What a surprise. Oh well, back to the diplomatic table where they can pretend to denuclearize and we can pretend to believe them, as Hill said. And what was that ‘red line’ that Bush talked of, of not selling nuke materials to rogue nations? KJI continues to play everyone for complete suckers and fools and we keep buying every word of it.
Where’s my hat tip or is it a coincidence that you linked to the very same Times Online article I did in the open thread?
No problem, you can have a hat-tip Sonagi.
I forgot about the posting!
My only observation is “where is China in this whole thing?” I have the impression that they are playing a role behind the scenes as the enabler to much mischief.
I doubt that China is facilitating NK’s nuclear program. Why would China want NK to go nuclear?
Almost certainly (IMHO), the entirety of the Chinese state bureaucracy has not been on one sheet of music about the DPRK nuclear weapons program — at least, until very recently.
I think it’s uniformly acknowledged that the Chinese defense apparatus (commonly referred to as “the PLA”) sees the US as potential enemy #1 — and also that they have had wide latitude to act independently in matters that affect PRC national interests.
While the PLA probably hasn’t provided active assistance to the DPRK nuclear weapons program, I imagine they were quite content to not speak up about their intelligence/observations of DPRK participation in the proliferation network of AQ Khan — as the DPRK nuclear weapons programs (plural) represented a huge problem for the US on the Korean peninsula and thus a huge potential diversion of US resources vs a vs “the Taiwan question”.
The PLA buildup of their forces on the mainland opposite Taiwan (to include especially short-range ballistic missiles) has been continuous for over a decade now.
IMO only the recent (2006) overplaying of their hand by the DPRK (the July 4 “missile tests” into the Sea of Japan and then the actual nuclear test) was sufficient to allow the likely PRC Foreign Ministry viewpoint on DPRK “adventurism” to prevail; Chinese pressure “behind the scenes” was undoubtedly responsible for any recent DRPK appearance of conciliation in the 6-party talks.
The Chinese must have been particularly alarmed last year when those two Clinton-era officials (former Secy of Def Perry was one) came out with the editorial piece (NYT?) advocating a first strike on a DPRK missile launch platform.
Anything that jeopardizes the run-up to the Olympics next year is of course unacceptable to China so they undoubtedly brought a lot of pressure to bear. After the Olympics are over and a new US administration is in office I expect that the situation will revert to the “old norm”, that is to say the PLA elements will exert their influence both overtly and covertly within the high levels of PRC governance to make the PRC’s foreign policy stance once again more tolerant of DPRK “adventurism”.
Particularly if the Roh administration is returned to office — and even more particularly, if a Democratic administration (eager to demonstrate its differences with the Bush administration and therefore anxious for yet another “deal” with the DPRK) comes to power in 2009 in the US.
I am still highly skeptical of the nuclear claims. This Times report is joining long-known info about NK-Syrian missile cooperation with likely info on U.S.-Israeli intel collaboration and plausible but unproven assertions about the nuclear material.
Adding China to the mix (comment above) is laughable conspiracy theory stuff. May as well mention Free Masons, Bush oil interests, and maybe something about Area 51.
Where’s the proof? Words from Israel and the Bush administration aren’t proof.
Indeed, we can take Israel’s actions here as proof it’s trying to get the US to fight yet another one of its wars.
“Adding China to the mix (comment above) is laughable conspiracy theory stuff…”
If you’re referring to my #5 — I didn’t say that that China actively conspired to help NorK with their nuclear weapons progrma — just that they have tolerated it to varying degrees because
a) the Chinese didn’t see NorK nuke weapons as a threat to themselves;
b) NorK nuke weapons programs provide an active ongoing distraction to the US vs a vs Taiwan.
I have no doubt that the North Koreans did all their own “heavy lifting” to get as far as they have with their nuclear weapons program (they may, or may not, actually have at this point one or more deliverable aircraft bombs — probably not nuclear warheads for their ballistic /cruise missiles). After all, they are the estranged brothers of South Korea — NorK achievements in the manufacture for export of ballistic missiles (and now probably nuclear weapons materials) are the NorK equivalent of the South’s economic achievements.
Scary.
All it takes is just one person to make an accusatory suggestion, and suddenly it gets so whipped up it gets referenced as fact.
Remember 2001, when the CIA planted suggestions that there was a Nigeria-Iraq uranium link?
There are people out there who gain from such insinuations. In light of recent experiences, we should wait for firm proof before flaming the DPRK.
Well, what can you expect from us “cons”? We like being “scary”, it’s in our nature (“to thine own self be true…”).
As well as the thrill of the chase. The game’s afoot! Here’s yet one more piece of late-breaking evidence, at least for those who are interested to see things “as they are”:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070922/world/nkorea_syria
Sat Sep 22, 3:25 PM
By The Associated Press
SEOUL — North Korea’s No. 2 leader met a Syrian delegation in Pyongyang on Saturday, the North’s media reported, amid suspicions of a secret nuclear connection between the two countries.
Kim Yong Nam, head of the North’s rubber-stamp legislature and titular head of state, had “a friendly talk” with the Syrian delegation, led by Saaeed Eleia Dawood, director of the organizational department of Syria’s Baath Arab Socialist Party, the North’s Korean Central News Agency reported.
The Syrian official expressed satisfaction that the “friendly and co-operative ties” between the two countries “are growing stronger under the deep care” of Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, KCNA said.
On Friday, the Syrian official held talks with Choe Tae Bok, a senior official of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party.
The delegation’s trip to Pyongyang came amid suspicions that the North may be providing nuclear assistance to Syria.
Both countries deny the charge.
Andrew Semmel, acting U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear nonproliferation policy, said last week that North Koreans were in Syria, and that Syria may have had contacts with “secret suppliers” to obtain nuclear equipment.
Semmel did not identify the suppliers. However, he said that he could not exclude the possibility that the nuclear black-market network run by the disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan may have been involved.
Semmel’s comments raised speculation that an Israeli incursion into Syrian airspace Sept. 6 was a strike targeting a nuclear installation. U.S. officials have said Israeli warplanes struck a target. One U.S. military officer said the strike was aimed at weapons being shipped to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Paul; ref to #3.
that’s proof to me.
I don’t take Kim Jong Il’s promises or Syrias or Irans as anything but a lie and a distraction.
Let me think like Kim Jong Il.
I think he thinks he is hedging himself from US military operations against North Korea by forcing the US to concentrate on the Middle East. In the process, he also makes money, and receives aid for stopping the nuke program.
He should be shot in the balls first, then in the head.
Too many Korean women have opened their legs to this genuinely ugly man in physical, mental, and character attributes, giving life to really ugly children who hog up precious resources.
this just confirms the words of wisdom that Bush spoke many, many years ago.
The Axis of Evil.
I tell you what, you gotta listen to a man with an Ivy League degree.
Here’s an opinion column with some more “speculation” (not US courtroom standard evidence, if that’s what you insist upon for judging the peace-loving regimes of Syria and North Korea).
The author is a regular columnist for this Pittsburgh paper and is another “notorious con”. Nevertheless, this is the most specific listing in print of the possible types of “war material” hit by the 6 Sep Israeli airstrikes in Northern Syria that I have seen, to date:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07266/819508-373.stm
“….Hardliner [Syrian generals] led by Gen. Assaf Shawkat, chief of Syrian military intelligence (and Mr. Assad’s brother-in-law) insist that [Syrian President Assad] retaliate for an Israeli air strike Sept. 6 near the town of Tal al-Abyad on Syria’s border with Turkey.
We don’t know for sure what it was that Israel bombed because the people who do know are (mostly) keeping their mouths shut. But we can surmise it was something big, because it is uncharacteristic for these people to keep their mouths shut.
British and American newspapers have published stories, based on leaks from Israeli and American sources, indicating the target was nuclear material recently delivered to Syria by North Korea.
Israeli F-15s took out two targets, sources in the Pentagon told my friend Jack Wheeler, a conservative commentator. One contained nuclear weapons components shipped from North Korea; the other Zil Zal surface-to-surface missiles from Iran. Before the fighter-bombers attacked, Israeli commandos inserted by helicopter took out the radars for Syria’s Russian-supplied air defense system.
The international response to the raid — or, rather, the lack of it — deepens the mystery. North Korea has protested, but Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have not.
The Israeli warplanes apparently entered Syria from Turkey. But Turkish authorities have issued only the mildest of complaints about this “violation” of their air space. The Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida reported that the Turkish army provided the Israelis with information on the targets.
European governments usually are quick to condemn military action by Israel. Not this time. We haven’t heard a peep from the usual suspects. Bernard Kouchner, France’s new foreign minister, said the Israeli raid was “understandable” if the target were weapons destined for Hezbollah, the Lebanese terror group supported by Iran and Syria. Even Syria’s public complaints have been tepid, perhaps because of its unwillingness to disclose just what it was that Israel bombed.
But privately, Syrian generals are seething….”
wjk wrote:
“this just confirms the words of wisdom that Bush spoke many, many years ago.
The Axis of Evil.”
The Axis of Evil was described as North Korea, Iraq, and Iran, not Syria.
Stat, I believe you’ve confused the CIA with certain neo-cons within the Administration. Any report that the CIA ever issued on the Nigeria-Iraq uranium deal would have been heavily caveated with words to the effect of: “we have to report this, but the huckster providing this information is unreliable and likely seeking to defraud.”
When can we start bombing?
We need to take out Iran and Syria.
Hopefully we can use Israeli as our proxy.
“The Axis of Evil was described as North Korea, Iraq, and Iran, not Syria.”
Correct. Syria was never part of the Axis of Evil. The problem is that is doesn’t matter to the zealots who coin and like to use these simplistic expressions.
This includes many of the same people who also chose to convince us that Iraq and Al Qaeda were somehow interchangeable – complete with fabricated/distorted intelligence – when they weren’t in the least. This includes many of the same people who at first pushed for war with Iraq over WMD – complete with fabricated/distorted intelligence – and then in near-Orwellian revisionist fashion would have you believe that it is/was always really about promoting freedom and democracy. (Which mysteriously doesn’t seem to be a standard that applies to allies like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.)
“that’s proof to me.” – wjk on taking the present administration and the Israelis at their word over a possible Syria/North Korea link.
Well, there’s one born every minute. Not that is isn’t outside the realm of possibility, but I’m not prepared to believe it on the basis of a few leaks/reports, many of which could be complete bullshit.
wjk, by the way, do you trust Israel so much, specifically the Mossad? It is rumored that they may not have been totally forthcoming with their friends in Washington about info they had regarding a truck bomb in Beirut in the early 80s…
“Hopefully we can use Israeli as our proxy.”
Or vice versa.
There were two reasons in my mind for the US to go into Iraq:
1. to shake up the Middle East by giving the US a very strong position of influence in a very big player in the region (in addition to its influence in Saudi, etc)
2. to kick some Arab ass
Those who claim that everyone believed everything the admin said and were thus totally suckered into it are bs’ing us once again. I recently saw a poll in which only 25% claimed to have believed the Bush claims of building democracy before the war (I certainly didn’t believe a word of it). I think many had and still have a healthy scepticism of anything that any government claims. The problem is, I think the government lies alot of the time, whereas the left lies almost all the time. The government may not ever be trustworthy, but many of their opponents are every bit as unscrupulous and even more full of shite. Bush may be full of it, but I’m not about to trust International ANSWER and other communist/anti-American front groups. There were certainly legitimate opponents of the war, but I still believe the intent was correct, though the execution sucked.
#18 –
Quote from an earlier post: “The Axis of Evil was described as North Korea, Iraq, and Iran, not Syria.”
global’s answer: “Correct. Syria was never part of the Axis of Evil.”
Quite wrong sir! We neocons have covered Syria doctrinally as well:
“…On May 6, 2002 the United States, then Under Secretary of State John R. Bolton gave a speech entitled “Beyond the Axis of Evil.” In it he added three more nations to be grouped with the already mentioned “rogue states”: Libya, Syria, and Cuba. The criteria for inclusion in this grouping were: “state sponsors of terrorism that are pursuing or who have the potential to pursue weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or have the capability to do so in violation of their treaty obligations.” The speech was widely reported as an expansion of the original axis of evil…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Evil#.22Beyond_the_Axis_of_Evil.22_speech
I must say I relish the opportunity to cite John Bolton; one hopes it will induce at least one fit of apoplexy out there somewhere in the ether.
“The new element — ‘boltonite’. It has an effect like kryptonite on hysterical liberals”.
And I like that title (“Beyond the Axis of Evil”). It’s got a Nietzschean ring to it (though I will make no pretense of being a philosopher, I like a good historical allusion).
However, I must admit I doubt Bolton had Nietzsche in mind when he used the phrase. Too bad, as otherwise it might have helped to win over all the anti-Christians here on the board.
#7 pawi: “….we can take Israel’s actions here as proof it’s trying to get the US to fight yet another one of its wars.”
#17 passions: “…Hopefully we can use Israeli as our proxy…”
#18 global: “…wjk, by the way, [why?] do you trust Israel so much…”
There has never been one single American soldier stationed in Israel to fight for them. Nor, for that matter, is there now (or has there ever been) a formal military alliance between the two countries.
Lots of Israelis, perhaps a majority, don’t want such an alliance — they prefer to rely only upon themselves, an understandable reaction based upon the totality of the worldwide Jewish historical experience.
And that of course is why lots of Americans admire Israel! They need US financial assistance and military aid, certainly; but when it’s time to do their fighting (and their dying), in defense of their national existence — you don’t see Israelis weeping for the Americans to come and protect them.
An example to be commended (and, dare I say, emulated).
Yet more from #18 global’s post (a seemngly inexhaustible treasure trove of rich ore):
“that’s proof to me.” – wjk on taking the present administration and the Israelis at their word over a possible Syria/North Korea link.
partial reply from global: “…Well, there’s one born every minute. Not that is isn’t outside the realm of possibility, but I’m not prepared to believe it on the basis of a few leaks/reports, many of which could be complete bullshit…”
Well, there are many different “realities” out there, even though we all reside in this the best of all possible worlds. Who’s to say which reality is the “objective” one — or even that there can be such a thing? Maybe these reports are indeed “Bush/ Cheney/ Rove/ Bolton / Jewish neo-con /_____ (fill in further derisive name or adjective of your choice)” “bullshit”.
But — this is a Korea-oriented blog. Perhaps if we put our minds to it, we can find a way to “leverage” said reports to promote the “Korean” version of reality (ie “Korea is one”).
Ah ha! I’ve got it. At the upcoming inter-Korean summit, President Roh should propose to General Secretary Kim Jong Il that the names and photos of the NorK “engineers” who perished in northern Syria should be published and broadcast all over Korea.
Naturally, the “operative” reality — one that all Koreans will understand implicitly — is that the NorK “engineers” were in Syria to work for “peaceful reconstruction”. (I was about to say they were helping to operate a “baby food factory” — but, perhaps that one is getting a little too shopworn).
Sample press story:
“Working in northern Syria, the hearts of the peaceful DPRK engineers reached out to their ROK brothers only a few short miles away — ones who were also working for peace and reconstruction in a far-away land, helping to repair the damages inflicted upon the long-suffering inhabitants by ‘outsiders’. The DPRK workers hoped, in spite of the painful realities of war that separated them across a bitterly divided border, for their own small (but symbolic) ‘reunification’ with at least a few members of the Zaytun — until their hopes were blotted out forever by the blast of American bombs, dropped by cruel and gloating Israeli pilots”.
Think of the sensation! From the Yalu in the north to Dokdo in the south, a firestorm of grief and righteous indignation will sweep across the land. Maybe it will finally suffice to sweep the “American” version of reality right out of Korea — once and for all.
Good riddance.
Does anybody remembers the train explosion at Ryongchon,North Korea, April 22,2004?
The Japanese Daily Newspaper Sankei Shinbun reported then, that among casualties there were several Syrian engineers and scientists among them.
World Tribune reported on April 18th, 2004, that this report by the Japanese daily newspaper was confirmed by some US government officials.
“A North Korean missile shipment to Syria was halted when a train collision in that Asian country destroyed the missile cargo and killed about a dozen Syrian technicians.
U.S. officials confirmed a report in a Japanese daily newspaper that a train explosion on April 22 killed about a dozen Syrian technicians near the Ryongchon province in North Korea. The officials said the technicians were accompanying a train car full of missile components and other equipment from a facility near the Chinese border to a North Korea port.
A U.S. official said North Korean train cargo was also believed to have contained tools for the production of ballistic missiles. North Korea has sold Syria the extended-range Scud C and Scud D missiles, according to reports by Middle East Newsline.
“The way it was supposed work was that the train car full of missiles and components would have arrived at the port and some would have been shipped to Syria while others would have been transported by air,” an official said.”
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2004/ss_syria_05_18.html
Coincidence?
One month later the Chosun Ilbao reported that North Korean government insisted that this explosion was not an accident but rather an assassination act by rebellious forces.
“According to a source, North Korea’s State Safety & Security Agency concluded that the massive explosion that occurred in the North Korean city of Ryongchon on April 22 had been conspired by anti-North Korean government forces to harm North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.”
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200405/200405240030.html
Maybe the North Korean governments speak sometimes truth.
Were these rebellious forces supported by MOSAD and CIA?
One month ago, haphazardly I happened to listen to a radio interview by a Japanese ex-diplomat Sato Masaru.
He said that during the Obuchi administration, some foreign intelligent service approached several Japanese politician and showed them concrete evidence and blueprints of North Korean missiles which were sold to Iran. According to Sato, based on these informations, Japanese government stopped cooperation with the Iranian government to develop the Azadegan oil fields.
From his interview, I’ve got strong impression that this “foreign intelligent service” was MOSAD (He clearly denied that it was the CIA, saying that there are better intelligent service when handling information in the middle east).
More commentary on the Israeli raid into Syria; an article in the New Republic by Dennis Ross, the Clinton administration ambassador at large to the Mideast.
No special revelations but some very informed speculation as to the reasons behind the raid; less to do with the specific targets in Ross’s opinion that with the Israelis sending the Syrians an overall “message” about the undesirability of any ideas the Syrians might have of fighting a duplicate “2006 Hezbollah-style” long-range missile war.
It’s just not easy being the last Arab Baathist dictator these days. Especially when you haven’t got any substantial amounts of domestic oil production of your own. Oh well, perhaps God will provide; “Inshallah”.
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070924&s=ross092407
(Note: the “bio” provided at the end of this article is IMO rather brief. So below is an excerpt from Ross’s wikipedia article.
So you’ll know he’s not just another neocon tool! Of course he does appear frequently as a mideastern affairs commentor on the Fox News Channel in CONUS, so perhaps he has been subverted. Oh well, here it is anyway:
“Dennis B. Ross…served as the director for policy planning in the State Department under President George H.W. Bush and special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton…..As an architect of the peace process, he helped the Israelis and Palestinians in reaching the 1995 Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and brokered the Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron in 1997. He facilitated the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace and also worked on talks between Israel and Syria….While having worked under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Ross himself is a Democrat…).
“Yet more from #18 global’s post (a seemngly inexhaustible treasure trove of rich ore):”
Glad you liked it.
“Think of the sensation! From the Yalu in the north to Dokdo in the south, a firestorm of grief and righteous indignation will sweep across the land. Maybe it will finally suffice to sweep the “American” version of reality right out of Korea — once and for all.
Good riddance.”
I think the long-suffering United States could choose to leave Korea at any time. No hypothetical post-summit, Syrian raid inspired nationalistic wave required. And Dokdo isn’t exactly the southernmost point of the peninsula. But in a world where Iraq was deliberately and wrongly suggested to be involved in the attack on the World Trade Center and have an active WMD program, who cares about details, right?
“I must say I relish the opportunity to cite John Bolton; one hopes it will induce at least one fit of apoplexy out there somewhere in the ether.”
Nice try.
I hope I am not too late to contribute something here.
Further to what Tomojiro said about the train explosion of 2004, I distinctly recall the news that the first plane bringing relief to the area from overseas was a Syrian one.
Even without the stories of Syrian scientists killed aboard the train, or missile parts allegedly going to Syria, I thought to myself, “When has Syria EVER been first to offer relief in times of international disaster (with the possible exception of disasters in Lebanon or Iran)?”
Hence, the latest news did not surprise me at all, it only served to add to the body of evidence pointing to a Syria-NK link.
“….I think the long-suffering United States could choose to leave Korea at any time. No hypothetical post-summit, Syrian raid inspired nationalistic wave required…”
I’m glad to see a rare point of agreement between us. Realistically, I’m afraid the earliest date for a complete US withdrawl from ROK is probably 2013, and IMO even that’s probably only possible if a President Guiliani or McCain is inaugurated in 2009.
If it’s President Clinton redux, I reckon all of you globalvillage types will be able to go on living securely in the ROK (under the American guns you are so pleased to profess scorn for) for probably at least another decade.
Absent of course a fiscal/economic disaster in the US govt/economy (the first baby boomers hit age 62 on Jan 1, 2008 and the demographic wave of retirements start).
That’s going to impose such a strain on future US budgets that I don’t think we’ll be able to go on funding these far-flung defense outposts. No US ground troops should be stationed anywhere overseas, except as needed for the defense of an absolutely minimal number of US air/sea bases (though I’d like to see all of them eventually closed as well).
To include Iraq of course, I expect to see a pretty rapid withdrawl from there in any new administration regardless of party.
“If it’s President Clinton redux, I reckon all of you globalvillage types will be able to go on living securely in the ROK (under the American guns you are so pleased to profess scorn for) for probably at least another decade.”
Paul H, What exactly constitutes “all of you globalvillage types”? I have little or no scorn for the United States, and this includes military in general or USFK in particular. Were you to have read any of my posts over the last couple of years, you would be unable to find a single post of mine where I am critical of USFK – who I am, of course, appreciative of – or posts where I would have in any way been supportive of Korean leftists/anti-Americans, who I generally can’t stand. (If I’m mistaken in this regard, please refresh my memory.)
I may be critical of the war in Iraq and what I see as hypocrisy in some US foreign policy, but this alone hardly puts me on the fringe, let alone suggests I have scorn for the US or its military. I am a staunch supporter of the war in Afghanistan and in conversations with Korean in-laws, friends, students, and colleagues I’m usually the one giving a US-friendly perspective to the conversation/debate.
My take on the US and Korea: I have always believed that the US/Korea alliance wouldn’t exist and continue to exist unless both sides felt it was mutually benificial. Some Koreans and Americans can bitch and moan all they like – and both groups will claim that they’re the ones getting shafted in the deal. (Clearly the United States bears the brunt of the financial cost, but must see it as being in their national interest to do so.) If one or both sides no longer want it, quit the bitching and move on. (And in the case of the Koreans in particular, no bitching after the fact!) Good riddance or not.
You’re right, I need to lighten up a little. My apologies.
We should all be good patriots and not draw SS.
I hate news like this. Rumors make people dumb. And just because a left leaning paper writes a right leaning news doesn’t make it more valid.
Look at this gem from the piece:
“…disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan may have been involved.”
“Disgraced?” WTF? This guy is a national hero in Pakistan. What do you mean disgraced?
There is a million and one reason why Israel would want to strike Syria even if DPRK didn’t exist.
1) “I hate news like this. Rumors make people dumb…”
Which do you think it is: “news”, or “a rumor”?
2) “…There is a million and one reason why Israel would want to strike Syria even if DPRK didn’t exist.”
I take it this means that you firmly believe no DPRK military and/or weapons technician personnel are in Syria for sinister purposes? If so, what evidence would it take to convince you? I don’t think they are going to make a public announcement with pictures/video, for the benefit of providing the world with US-courtroom standard “proof beyond a reasonable doubt”.
I think it’s the unanimous conclusion of all the major intelligence services of the world that both Syria and Iran are major customers for DPRK export versions of short-range ballistic missiles. Do you really think the DPRK would export these without sending technicians as long-term “customer support”?
3) Given their willingness to export such missiles, it’s long been considered an open question as to whether DPRK would eventually take the logical next step — the export of “nuclear materials”. They’ve never manufactured a “non-nuclear” weapon that they wouldn’t sell to an anti-US customer.
Conclusion: It’s your privilege to believe whatever you want. However, I don’t think that entitles you to assume that those of us who “believe” the worst about the DPRK are “dumb”.
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