Iraq:  International Experts Considering Iraqi Missile Systems

A panel of missile experts commissioned by chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix is scheduled to meet today and tomorrow to investigate two Iraqi missile programs and determine if they violate U.N. resolutions, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Feb. 4).

The missile experts will examine the al-Samoud 2 and al-Fatah programs, according to AP.

Blix said that he wanted the experts to “give us advice because if we have to take a decision — and we may have to do so — then I would like to have the technical side secure.”

U.N. lawyers will also look into the situation because “I also want to have the legal side secure,” Blix added.

Under U.N. resolutions, Iraq is not permitted to have missiles with ranges greater than 93 miles.  Blix has said that the al-Samoud 2 has passed that mark 13 times in 40 tests, according to Security Council diplomats.  The missile traveled 114 miles during one test, they said.  The al-Fatah exceeded the 93-mile limitation eight times during its 33 tests, the officials said.  At one point that missile traveled 100 miles, they added.

Iraq released documents on the missile programs to U.N. officials Sunday, Blix said.

“These missiles might very well represent prima facie cases of proscribed systems,” Blix said.  “In the meantime, we have asked Iraq to cease flight tests of both missiles,” he added.

Iraqi officials said that the missiles would be weighed down with control systems in their final forms and would not be able to travel more than 93 miles, AP reported (Edith Lederer, Associated Press/Austin American-Statesman, Feb. 10).

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Iraq:  Powell Presents U.S. Evidence of Missile, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Programs

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell went to the U.N. Security Council yesterday with U.S. intelligence alleging Iraqi efforts to develop and conceal its ballistic missile programs (see GSN, Feb. 5).

During his presentation, which included U.S. evidence on the whole of Iraq’s WMD and missile efforts, Powell presented photographs (I and II) taken in November that he said showed Iraqi crews moving ballistic missile components from a missile site.  The United States has intelligence information that Iraq cleaned 30 such sites before inspectors arrived, Powell said.

“We must ask ourselves: Why would Iraq suddenly move equipment of this nature before inspections if they were anxious to demonstrate what they had or did not have?” Powell told the Security Council.

The United States also has evidence that Iraq has attempted to develop missiles with ranges of more than 1,000 kilometers, with one having a range of more than 1,200 kilometers, Powell said.  He presented an April 2002 photograph he said indicated Iraq constructing a missile test stand for use in developing long-range missiles.  Since then, the test stand has been completed and equipped with a roof to block satellite photography, Powell said.

Iraq has also attempted to develop unmanned aerial vehicles with ranges beyond those allowed by U.N. mandates, Powell said.  He presented a diagram of the flight path of such a vehicle he said went 500 kilometers nonstop on autopilot.  In addition to being beyond U.N-permitted ranges, the test was not included in the declaration Iraq submitted to the Security Council in December, Powell said.

“[Iraqi President] Saddam Hussein’s intentions have never changed.  He is not developing the missiles for self-defense,” Powell said.  “These are missiles that Iraq wants in order to project power, to threaten, and to deliver chemical, biological and, if we let him, nuclear warheads,” he added (White House release, Feb. 5).

For further information, see:

Powell’s presentation slides (U.S. State Department)

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India:  New Delhi Plans Test of Long-Range Agni 3 Missile

India hopes to test its Agni 3 ballistic missile, which is expected to have a range of more than 3,000 kilometers, by the end of the year, an Indian official said yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 10).

“It (the test) should be some time in the later part of the year,” said V.K. Aatre, scientific adviser to Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes.  “It (the range) will be 3,000 kilometers plus, hopefully,” he added (CNN.com, Feb. 6).

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North Korea:  Japanese Police Investigate Tokyo Company for Providing Equipment

Japanese police are investigating Seishin Enterprise Co. in Tokyo for illegally exporting equipment to North Korea in 1994 that could be used to produce solid missile fuel, the Asahi Shimbun reported today.  The company is also being investigated for similar illegal exports to Iran.

Police reportedly searched the company’s facilities earlier this week on suspicion it trained Iranian experts how to use a jet mill, which can be used to produce solid missile fuel (see GSN, Feb. 5).

Authorities now suspect that Seishin sold a jet mill to a company affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, a pro-North Korea organization, according to Asahi Shimbun.  Seishin shipped the mill and related equipment to a warehouse in the Japanese port of Niigata in March 1994, and a few days later, a North Korean passenger-cargo ship docked at the port.  Police suspect that the mill was loaded onto the ship and sent to a company associated with the North Korean military, Asahi Shimbun reported.

Seishin did not receive governmental approval for the export and submitted false documents to customs officials in Niigata, saying the mill did not have military uses, sources said (Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 6).

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Iran:  Japanese Police Investigate Tokyo Company for Providing Training

Japanese police yesterday searched the headquarters and facilities of Seishin Enterprise Co. in Tokyo on suspicions the company trained Iranian experts on how to use a jet mill, which can be used to produce solid missile fuel, according to the Daily Yomiuri.

The search was conducted because of allegations the Japanese company had violated export regulations by training employees of the Iranian company to which it sold the jet mills, the Daily Yomiuri reported.  Police suspect Iran used the mills to improve missile propellants.

Seishin began working with the Iranian company 15 years ago and the company sent its employees to Seishin in order to learn how to safely use the mills, according to sources (Daily Yomiuri, Feb. 5).

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