The China-North Korea Missile Link

At an April 15, 2012 parade honoring the late Kim Il Sung, North Korea watchers got a surprise: six Chinese Transporter-Erector-Launchers (TELs) and six new — and possibly fake — road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).  Although the international media paid the most attention to the missiles themselves, the vehicles carrying the missiles may have the most immediate consequences for regional nonproliferation efforts.

A new issue brief by Melissa Hanham investigates the alleged transfer of this technology from China to North Korea, examining the possible circumstances of the transfer and what this means for China's nonproliferation efforts.

"Regrettably, absent more transparency from Beijing, China will continue to leave itself open to critics who insinuate that the country is explicitly supporting North Korea's missile program to the detriment of its international reputation and regional relationships," writes Hanham.

Read the issue brief.