Categories
Quick Analysis

The North Korean-Iranian Alliance, Part 2

The New York Analysis of Policy and Government concludes its two-part review of the Iranian-North Korean nuclear, missile, and foreign policy alliance

The National Interest has reported “over the past three decades, Iran [and] …North Korea have erected a formidable alliance—the centerpiece of which is cooperation on nuclear and ballistic-missile capabilities. As long ago as 1985, the two countries had already launched cooperative missile development, with Iran helping to underwrite North Korea’s production of 300-kilometer-range Scud-B missiles. Their interaction expanded in the 1990s, when Iran and North Korea began joint development of Iran’s Shahab medium-range missile, which is closely based on North Korea’s own nuclear-capable No Dong. Indeed, North Korea’s arsenal is the inspiration behind most of Iran’s ballistic-missile capabilities—including the Shahab 3 and Shahab 4, now in service, and its longer-range Shahab 5 and 6 variants, currently in development. And the collaboration continues today; the two nations are believed to be jointly working on a nuclear-capable missile of intercontinental range. The Islamic Republic has also relied on the DPRK for help with its nuclear program.

Evidence mounts that North Korea and Iran have shared nuclear and missile development, and now appear to be on similar foreign policy paths as well.  In addition to nuclear arms technology sharing, their foreign policies are meshing, as well.

As reported by The Diplomat “In an official statement released on April 29, Pyongyang declared its intention to “mercilessly punish” Israel for offending North Korea’s leaders… hostility toward Israel has been a consistent feature of North Korean foreign policy since the early stages of the Cold War. Under founding leader Kim Il-sung, Pyongyang frequently sought to delegitimize Israel by describing it as a U.S.-backed ‘imperial satellite’…North Korea’s fierce opposition to Israel’s right to exist … has not gone unnoticed in the Arab world. On April 30, Hamas praised the North Korean regime… Israeli policymakers fear a cash-strapped North Korean government could export its technological advances to terrorist organizations with sufficient financial backing…Israeli policymakers are concerned that North Korea’s successful construction of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile might encourage other states hostile to Israel, like Iran, to conclude that they can develop nuclear deterrents without risking a retaliatory U.S.-led military intervention. This argument is strengthened by the contrasting fates of the DPRK regime, which has resisted international pressure to disarm, and Libya’s Gaddafi, who voluntarily surrendered WMD capacity in 2003. [but was inexplicably attacked and overthrown with the assistance of the Obama Administration]

Healing mineral water baths and spas were and are buy levitra online common throughout Europe for centuries. For better understand the link between symptoms and ED, make use of the Sexual Health Inventory Management (SHIM) Survey. cialis order levitra Nitrate meds levitra properien http://www.slovak-republic.org/itinerary/bratislava/ don’t run well with dapoxetine and sildenafil citrate drug. These auras have viagra sale buy individual bands of energy that pulsates much like a heart beat. AOL news noted that “The Pentagon is reportedly seeing further signs of cooperation between Iran and North Korea over their missile programs—something Fox News says, ‘nonproliferation experts have long suspected.’ According to the network, such evidence includes similarly designed submarines, missiles, and launch approaches.

In May, Fox News noted that “When Iran attempted to launch a cruise missile from a “midget” submarine…Pentagon officials saw more evidence of North Korean influence in the Islamic Republic – with intelligence reports saying the submarine was based on a Pyongyang design, the same type that sank a South Korean warship in 2010.

Asia Times calls the relationship between the two regimes a “spiritual alliance…during [a] parade in Pyongyang…standing just two men apart from North Korean leader Kim Jong-eun, was an Iranian general. There was just one other foreign dignitary who was atop the tribune alongside Jong-eun and his general staff, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao. The Iranian general was the only military attache. Iranian-North Korean relations expanded after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, but the relationship truly came into its own after the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88). During this conflict, the DPRK was Iran’s main source of arms, with arms imports from North Korea comprising 40% of their total arms imports…Hung Son-Muk, former North Korean ambassador to Tehran, once stated: ‘We truly consider the advances and achievements of the revolutionary Iranian nation…as our own.’ Then Iranian president…[said] “The two governments and two nations of Iran and the DPRK have many common traits and ideals; it is this kinship that has resulted in the day-by-day increase in relations and cooperation between our two countries.’…The two countries conduct a “friendship week” each year, and they often even coordinate political moves.”

Washington is now wedged between two unfavorable policy options.  If it chooses to do nothing substantial to eliminate the rapidly escalating North Korean threat, it places American safety in severe jeopardy, since, using an EMP attack, the Pyongyang government could devastate the nation.  On the other hand, if it decides to take forceful action, it faces a two-front war that the Obama-era budget cuts have left it ill-prepared to face.