Iran-Japan:  Police Suspect Japanese Firm of Exporting Missile Technology to Iran

Japanese police searched a Tokyo machine manufacturer Thursday to investigate suspicions the firm had illegally exported equipment to Iran that can be used to increase the range of missiles.

The Jet Mill machine — which grinds ammonium perchlorate into a fine powder that can be used in missile fuel — requires government approval before it is exported.  Seishin Enterprise Company exported the machine to Iran in May 1999 and November 2000, according to Tokyo police officials.

The company made a false customs declaration when it exported the machine, according to Japanese customs officials.

The police also searched homes of company officials and said that Iran most likely asked the company to keep the transaction quiet.

The milling machine is technology restricted by the Missile Technology Control Regime which limits Japan’s technology exports, according to Asahi Shimbun (Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 15).

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North Korea:  Scuds Reach Yemen

Yemen Saturday received a shipment of 15 Scud ballistic missiles and fuel from North Korea, after the ship had been seized and later released by the United States and Spain, officials said (see GSN, Dec. 13).  The missiles will be taken to a base near the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, a Yemeni official said (The Hindu, Dec. 15).

Little Could Have Been Done

There was little the United States could have done to prevent the shipment from reaching Yemen, according to the New York Times.  While the United States and Spain were entitled to stop and seize the ship, which was flying no flag, the missile sale to Yemen was legal under international law, the Times reported.

The United States could have attempted to block Yemen from receiving the Scuds through bureaucratic measures, international lawyers said.  For example, since the North Korean ship was flying no flag, the United States could have held the ship until its last legal owner came forward to claim it.  Such tactics were not attempted, however, for fear of alienating Yemeni support for the war on terrorism, according to the Times.

Even though the missiles were ultimately sent on to Yemen, the seizure of the ship was beneficial in that it demonstrated that the United States can detect and stop clandestine arms transfers, White House officials said (Thom Shanker, New York Times, Dec. 15).

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North Korea:  Pyongyang Demands Apology for Ship Seizure

North Korea demanded an apology today from the United States for its role in seizing a North Korean ship this week carrying 15 Scud ballistic missiles to Yemen (see GSN, Dec. 12).

“The United states should apologize for its high-handed piracy committed against the D.P.R.K.’s trading ship and duly compensate for all the mental and material damage done to the ship and its crew,” the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement reported by the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea also criticized Spain for its role in the joint operation to search and seize the ship, which was ultimately released.

“It is something very regretful and disappointing that Spain which has normal state relations with the D.P.R.K. blindly acted as a servant of the U.S. pirate, unbecoming its status,” the North Korean Foreign Ministry statement said (Financial Times, Dec. 13).

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