DATE=9/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=N. KOREA / ARMS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254394
BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  A report by the South Korean Defense 
Ministry says North Korea has exported millions 
of dollars worth of military hardware in recent 
years.  Hyun-Sung Khang reports from the South 
Korean capital that the ministry estimates sales 
from Pyongyang accounted for more than seven per 
cent of the country's total exports. 

TEXT:  There have been long-standing rumors that 
North Korea has been selling military hardware to 
other countries, including Pakistan and Iran.  
Such claims have been almost impossible to 
confirm.  But according to a new report by the 
South Korean Defense Ministry, the reclusive 
state sold eight hundred million dollars worth of 
military hardware between 1991 and 1998.   

While the report did  not  specify where the 
equipment ended up, it suggested that the 
customers were countries in the Middle East and 
South East Asia.

Included on the export list were Scud-B and Scud-
C missiles -- rockets based on Soviet technology. 
The report suggested that the military exports 
accounted for seven point one percent of the 
country's total exports in the last three years.

The report went on to say that Pyongyang imported 
over one hundred million dollars worth of 
military equipment in the last five years, 
including helicopters, anti-aircraft guns and 
military trucks.  The hardware was purchased from 
China, Russia and other countries of the former 
Soviet Union.

Some of the equipment bought by North Korea could 
have legitimate civilian uses, such as the six 
thousand diving suits bought from Japan in 1996.  
But they can equally be put to military use: the 
diving suits were similar to those found on the 
bodies of North Korean agents, who attempted to 
infiltrate into the South, over a year ago.

According to the Defense Ministry report, North 
Korea also sent more than 440 military personnel 
overseas to such regions as Africa, Southwest 
Asia and the Middle East.  The suggestion is that 
the personnel might have been sent abroad to 
negotiate arms deals and earn foreign currency.

The study, which has been drawn up for review by 
the South Korean legislature, comes after a 
recent agreement between North Korea and the 
United States under which Pyongyang promised to 
suspend test launches of its long-range missiles.  
In return, the United States has agreed to relax 
a number of economic sanctions against the 
Communist state.

North Korea has one of the world's largest 
standing armies and remains technically at war 
with the South.  The 1950-53 war ended in a 
truce, rather than a peace agreement.  And while 
Pyongyang spends millions of dollars on military 
equipment, the country has been experiencing 
years of dire food shortages. (Signed)

NEB/HSK/FC



28-Sep-1999 07:15 AM EDT (28-Sep-1999 1115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.