January-February 2004
On 29 January, U.S. media outlets report that North Korea is offering to sell Nigeria missile technology, causing Washington to threaten the Nigerian government with economic sanctions. According to Nigerian officials, a visiting DPRK delegation approached them with a memorandum regarding joint development of missile technology and training and manufacturing ammunition. According to press reports, the Nigerian government acknowledged that it is pursuing “ballistic-missile technology for peaceful purposes.” On 4 February, a U.S. official confirms that Nigeria ultimately rejected North Korea’s missile offer.
--Kralev, Nicholas, “North Korea Offers Nigerian Missile Deal; US Warns Ally to Spurn Pact,” Washington Times, 29 January 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>;“World Briefing Africa: U.S. Says North Korea Missile Offer is Rejected,” Reuters, 4 February 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

29 January 2004
The Japanese parliament approves legislation to impose economic sanctions on North Korea. Although the Diet claimed that the legislation was sponsored in an effort to maintain “peace and stability” on the Korean peninsula, legislators and analysts claim that the legislation is part of Japan’s effort to put pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs as well as Japan’s frustration for North Korea’s failure to explain the abduction of Japanese nationals which took place during the 1970s and 1980s. A North Korean news source issues a statement that the Diet’s decision could “lay a stumbling block in the way of a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue…and escalate the military tension in the region.”
--“Japan Lower House Slaps DPRK with Sanctions,” China Daily, 30 January 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

28 February 2004
North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan announces that North Korea sold missiles to Pakistan to “acquire foreign currency” at a news conference held at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing just hours after the closure of the second round of the Six Party Talks. The Vice Foreign Minister denied any involvement in deals concerning highly enriched uranium, stating “that we do not have enriched uranium, that we do not have the facilities, scientists or experts related to HEU.” and contending that North Korea only uses natural uranium.
--“North Korea Says Missiles Sold to Pakistan, Denies Nuclear Deal,” BBC News Monitoring, 4 February 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

14 March 2004
According to U.S. and Chinese officials, the CIA releases a classified report that addresses the history of Khan Laboratories’ collaboration with North Korea – a topic that is traced back to the early 1990's. The New York Times reports that “evidence suggests that North Korean scientists worked at the Khan Laboratories in the late 1990's, ostensibly on missile technology, and that several of the critical shipments to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, took place on Pakistani military cargo planes.” The article also notes that North Korea was catalytic in Pakistan achieving its goal of acquiring “long-range missiles that could reach virtually all parts of India.”
--David, E. Sanger, “U.S Widens View of Pakistan Link to Korean Arms,” New York Times, 14 March 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

26 March 2004
The National Institute for Defense Studies –a branch of the Japanese Defense Agency – published a report claiming that “North Korea is capable of deploying 175 to 200 Rodong (Nodong) missiles, each able to carry nuclear warheads that could hit any part of Japan.” The report, which highlights the necessity to create a missile defense program that could strike North Korean missile bases, explains Japan’s precarious situation, writing: “Because Japan and the United States have yet to establish effective countermeasures, Tokyo could militarily be taken hostage, which increases the level of Japan's vulnerability.” Despite Japan’s statements, it is unlikely that North Korea was capable of miniaturizing its warhead to fit on a Nodong at this point in time.
--“Report: North Korea Missile Threat Growing,” Daily Yomiuri, 26 March 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

5 August 2004
The New York Times reports that North Korea is approaching possible deployment of a new SSN6 submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of more than 2,600 miles. U.S. government officials explained that the missile is not capable of reaching the US since North Korea lacks a submarine capable of deploying the missile within range of the United States. Nevertheless, U.S. forces in Japan and Guam could be at risk. The appearance of the new mobile missile provokes inquiry into who provided the DPRK with the necessary technology to fully develop the missile.
--Thom Shanker, “Korean Missile Said to Advance; US is Worried,” New York Times, 5 August 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

12 October 2004
A report in the Rodong Sinmun, the DPRK’s ruling party publication denies that North Korea is preparing a missile test but notes that the DPRK weapons program is aimed at countering a growing U.S. military threat.” Surveillance of recent activity near DPRK missile sites caused Japanese officials to voice its concerns at a meeting with North Korea in China in September 2004. Rodong Sinmun, the DPRK’s ruling party publication accused Washington of circulating rumors in an “attempt to carry into practice its strategy of preemptive attack.”
--“North Korea says No Missile Test, but Defends Missile Program,” Agence France Presse, 12 October 2004 http://www.spacewar.com/reports/North_Korea_Says_No_Missile_Test__But_
Defends_Missile_Program.html

2 December 2004
A Paris-based dissident group, the National Council of Resistance in Iran, reveals that Iran is collaborating with North Korean scientists in the secret development of a longer-range ballistic missile. The missile is reported to “have the capacity to carry a nuclear warhead” and, according to the dissidents, “a range of more than 1,500 miles.” Iran's defense minister, Ali Shamkhani, and Mortezar Ramandi, a spokesman for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, both denied that Iran was developing a ballistic missile with a range any greater than 1,250 miles. However, a November 2004 CIA report confirms that Iran “is pursuing longer-range ballistic missiles” than the Shahab-3 which has a range of 1,250 miles. The dissident group supplying information is on the U.S. list of terror organizations and has a “mixed record of credibility.” Dissidents claimed that that missile system was dubbed “Ghadr” (“capable” or “powerful”) and operated on solid-fueled engines allowing it to be launched faster than Iran’s previous missiles.
--Douglas Jehl,“Iran is Said to Work on New Missile; Dissident Group Says Longer-Range Weapon Could Reach Europe,” New York Times, 2 December 2004, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

	Updated August 2008