. 24/7 Space News .
Seoul Confirms US-N.Korea Missile Deal
image copyright AFP Seoul (AFP) Sept 13, 1999 - South Korea on Monday confirmed that rival North Korea has agreed in principle to suspend plans to test-launch its new medium range missile in return for a softening of US sanctions.

"It seems North Korea has given an indication to the United States that it will not test-fire its (Taeopodong II) missile," a senior foreign ministry official told AFP.

He said that in return for the ballistic concession, the United States had given a general commitment to ease decades-old sanctions on the Stalinist regime.

"Washington has promised some benefits, including the easing of some sanctions, to North Korea," he said.

He declined to comment on whether the United States had already agreed to any specific moves, but said it was very unlikely that it had agreed to remove the North from its list of enemy states.

"I do not think Washington has given a final and resolute promise to remove North Korea from the list of terrorist states during the Berlin talks," he said.

The official said Washington would prbably unveil concrete measures after reporting the results of the six-day Berlin talks to Congress.

Some South Korean newspapers reported Monday that Washington had agreed to remove North Korea from its list of pariah states, a move which would open up long-sealed channels of international funding to the starving state. In other news, Irans defence ministry on Saturday formally denied US intelligence reports that Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking the United States.

"This report based its assessment of Iran's defensive capabilities on speculative data and mistaken suppositions," said ministry spokesman Kayvan Khosravi.

A US intelligence report published Thursday concluded that Iran and Iraq as well as North Korea could test intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States by the end of the next decade.

"This study in no way conforms to reality and is only aimed at deceiving American public opinion," said Khosravi, adding that Iran's military policy is based on "defensive measures and constitutes no threat to countries which are not hostile to Iran."

"Iran could test an ICBM that could deliver a several hundred kilogram payload to many parts of the United States in the latter half of the next decade, using Russian technology and assistance," the US report suggested.

It added that most analysts believe Iran could test a North Korean Taepo Dong-1 missile or a three stage Taepo Dong-2, possibly with North Korean assistance, in the next few years.

Copyright 1999 AFP. All rights reserved. The material on this page is provided by AFP and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  • DoD: National Missile Defense Official Site
  • Boeing National Missile Defense page
  • FAS: National Missile Defense - Analysis and Links
  • SBIRS
  • Via Washington - SpaceDaily Special Report
  • MilSpace - SpaceDaily Special Report

    Asian MilSpace Issues At SpaceDaily

  • N. Korea Freezes Missile Tests
  • China Expected To Increase ICBM Targeting
  • N. Korea Warns It Retains "Sovereign Right" To Launch Missiles
  • US and South Korea To Sign Launch Agreement
  • Is Project 921 Real
  • Cox Panel Says U.S. Aided China Launcher Growth
  • China Obtained Reentry Vehicle Design Data
  • Opposing Camps in China Controversy Debate Issues
  • TRW Delivers Korean Multipurpose Satellite
  • Japan's Space Scandal Might Spread
  • Mitsubishi Eyes Billion Dollar SpySat Trough
  • EarlyBird Tweaks The Law - Early Japan SpySat Report

    Missile Defense at SpaceDaily

  • NK, Iran, and Iraq Pose Missile Threat By 201O
  • Nichols Announces Space and Missile Defense Initiative
  • TRW/Raytheon Give Space Spy Definition
  • THAAD Spurs Faster Missile Defense Development
  • Starwars Pays Dividends - 96K File
  • Boeing Outlines Preliminary Anti Ballistic Missile System
  • LMIRIS Seeker Helps THAAD See
  • Lockheed Tests a THAAD
  • Democrat Riders Bail Out Republican Hawks
  • Integration and Test of SBIRS-Low Satellites Begins
  • MilSpace - SpaceDaily Special Report




    Thanks for being here;
    We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

    With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

    Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

    If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
    SpaceDaily Contributor
    $5 Billed Once


    credit card or paypal
    SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
    $5 Billed Monthly


    paypal only














  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.