N Korea 'tests new missile in Iran'
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By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 1:59am BST 17/05/2007

North Korea may have used a launch-pad in Iran to test a new missile
capable of hitting American bases in the Pacific island of Guam,
according to reports from Japan and South Korea.

The missile, named after the Musudan testing range in North Korea, was
recently shown off to the public at a vast military parade in the
capital, Pyongyang, according to the reports. South Korean and American
intelligence reports suggest that the weapon may then have been tested
in Iran, with which North Korea is known to have military links.

The Musudan missile had not been previously recorded. North Korea has a
known capacity to build short and medium-range missiles, including the
Taepodong-1 which it fired over Japan in 1998 to the alarm of Tokyo and
its allies in Washington.

However, it has had less success with developing long-range missiles. It
has been working for several years on a Taepodong-2, which would be
targeted at the United States' western seaboard.

But a test launch carried out last July ended in failure, with the
missile landing in the sea not far from the border between North Korean
and Russia.

The new missile is said have been identified by American military
satellite pictures of the rally held in April to commemorate the 75th
anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army. The weapon is
thought to have been based on Soviet technology.

The Japanese defence ministry confirmed yesterday that the new missile
might be able to travel 3,000 miles at middle altitude. "We acknowledge
that such a new type of missile is being developed by North Korea in
addition to the existing missiles," an official said.

Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, quoted a source in Washington as
saying: "We did obtain intelligence tips that the missile was test-fired
in Iran. I understand that the intelligence communities of relevant
countries are tracking down the information."

If the test did take place in Iran, it could have been a quid pro quo
for North Korea's alleged agreement to share with Teheran the results of
the nuclear test it carried out last October.

Both countries benefited from the "nuclear supermarket" run by Abdul
Qadeer Khan when he was head of Pakistan's nuclear programme. Until he
was placed under house arrest in Islamabad three years ago, Khan sold
component parts and crucial expertise to both Iran and North Korea.

The Pyongyang regime returned the favour by transferring missile
technology to Pakistan. Ten years ago, Pakistan deployed the Ghauri
missile - named after the 12th century king who laid waste to India -
which can deliver a nuclear warhead to an Indian target. This missile
was almost entirely based on North Korean technology.

But Iran does not have anything similar to offer North Korea. It is
unlikely to be able to offer missile or nuclear know-how.

The use of a test site is one of its few options for payment. The only
other would be for Iran to offer North Korea cash - and with the second
largest oil reserves in the world, it has plenty of revenues available.

The two countries also share the solidarity caused by President George W
Bush's decision to brand them members of the "Axis of Evil" in 2002.