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For other North Korean missile tests see North Korean missile tests

North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

Events North Korean missile tests: 1993 1998 2006 2006 nuclear test Weapons Taepodong-1 Taepodong-2 See also Musudan-ri Ryanggang explosion Yongbyon Korean People's Army

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A North Korean missile test occurred on May 29 and 30 of 1993. North Korea fired the Nodong-1 missile into the Sea of Japan. It was launched from a base near Wonsan, North Korea. This caused anxiety throughout Japan. This testing demonstrated that parts of western Japan were within the 1,000km (600-mile) range of the missile. The North Koreans were testing the missile so they could export it to Iran in return for oil^[1]. Japanese and United States officials waited a few days before disclosing the launch of the missile. Afterwards, North Korea reaffirmed its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The target was a buoy floating in the Sea of Japan.

The missile launches were the culmination of several months' planning and bargaining with Iran, and what was suggested to be a plot between Iran and North Korea to develop weapons capable of striking Japan. It began in March 1993, with North Korea receiving several shipments of "special metals" designated for the construction of missile launch pads.[1] Later, a Russian report indicated that North Korea was in the market for "missile specialists" in order to turn their missile production into a more profitable venture. Russian officials were further incensed after detaining a group of Russian nuclear physicists and rocket scientists attempting to enter North Korea. North Korea later pledged not to use Russian scientists and technicians, after being threatened with cut diplomatic ties by Russia. In January of that year, the commander of the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps, Mohsen Rezai, went to Pyongyang to finalize a 2.7 billion dollar purchase of around 300 SCUD missiles from North Korea.[2] Around the same time the Iranian delegation came to watch the final Nodong-1 tests, North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It was suspected upon successful testing of the missiles, Iran intended to trade oil for the Nodong missiles, as Iran is a primary contributor of North Korea's oil (over 40%). After successful missile tests, though never proven, it is most likely transactions went through, as Iran later scheduled Nodong-2 tests in the Lut Desert in September.[3]

• North Korean nuclear programme

1. ^ "Missile is Tested by North Koreans" by David E. Sanger, New York Times, June 12, 1993

CNS-Chronology of North Korea missile tests

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