Posted on 07/02/2010 1:48:07 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
In June 2009, the North Korean government congratulated Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his re-election. The de facto head of state, Kim Yong-Nam, said that he “sincerely wished [Ahmadinejad] success in his responsible work to frustrate pressure and interference of outsiders and build [an] independent and prosperous Iran." Kim also said that Ahmadinejad's electoral victory demonstrated the people’s support of the Iranian president and expressed his hope that Iran would succeed in countering foreign interference in its domestic affairs.[1]
Nuclear: According to Kim Chong Ryong, North Korea’s ambassador to Tehran, Pyongyang supports Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology and recognizes that Iran has played a very positive and constructive role in restoring stability to the region.[2] According to officials from the U.S. State Department, North Korea has also provided Iran with technical advice and materials sales to develop ballistic missiles, including the Iranian Shahab-3.[3] North Korea also reportedly provided Iran with assistance for its nuclear program and agreed to share data and experience with Iran’s nuclear scientists.[4] In December 2008, however, North Korean diplomats stationed in Iran claimed that Pyongyang has not agreed to any military or technical cooperation with Iran and accused Japan and the United States of distorting news to politicize the nuclear issue.[5
In December 2009, Thai authorities intercepted a North Korean Il-76 transport aircraft reportedly bound for Iran. After searching the plane, officials discovered rocket launchers, ammunition, other small arms, and components for a surface-to-air missile system. Though the official flight plan indicated that the plane's destination was Colombo, Sri Lanka, a report issued to the United Nations Security Council suggested that it may have instead been bound for Iran, although the Iranian Foreign Ministry has denied such accusations. All five of the airplane crewmembers were subsequently released by authorities.[6]
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