No evidence of missile cooperation between Iran, N Korea: UN

Iran Press TV

Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:27AM GMT

Despite claims made by certain countries, the UN has confirmed Tehran’s assertions that there is no missile cooperation between Iran and North Korea.

The South Korean Arirang News reported on Saturday that according to the annual report of Iran sanctions committee panel of the UN Security Council, “There is no evidence of technological collaboration between North Korea and Iran in developing a long-range missile.”

On December 12, 2012, North Korea launched a rocket which it said put a weather satellite into orbit.

Shortly after the launch, Japan's Kyodo News Agency quoted a Western diplomatic source as saying that Iran had dispatched defense staff to North Korea in late October, apparently to boost missile and nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

Japanese media also said a team from Iran's defense ministry was present at the time of the missile launch.

However, on December 24, 2012, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi dismissed the claims as mere “speculation,” adding that Tehran had dispatched nobody to Pyongyang for missile cooperation.

The US and its allies insist North Korea's missile launches are disguised tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. Pyongyang has dismissed the claims.

MYA/HMV