The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) called for strict controls on proliferation of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, in a statement wrapping up a three-day conference here.

"Partners acknowledged that the risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery remains a major threat for global and regional security," the statement said.

"Partners expressed their serious concerns over missile proliferation in Northeast Asia, the Middle East and South Asia, and reaffirmed their determination to continue discouraging missile programs and activities of proliferation concern."

Organizers said the conference focused on missile proliferation by Iran, Syria, India and North Korea, which has been denounced by Washington as a leading global proliferator of weapons of mass destruction.

The conference comes amid growing concerns about North Korea's missile development. Pyongyang stunned the world in August 1998 by test-launching over Japan a Taepodong-1 missile with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers.

Participants were told that it was uncertain how far North Korea's missile technology had developed in ensuing years.

"Since the 1998 launch, there has been no information on North Korea's new missile development but it is always possible because North Korea could develop new missiles without (test firing)," said the meeting chairman Oh Joon, a director general of South Korea's foreign ministry.

North Korea declared a moratorium on missile tests in September 1999 and in May 2001 extended the decision until 2003 and beyond. But the cash-strapped country has refused to stop missile exports, a major source of hard currency earnings.

Participants in the Seoul conference agreed that North Korea should be encouraged to extend the moratorium.

The MTCR was established in 1987 with the aim of controlling exports of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. Spain will host the next meeting.

All rights reserved. copyright 2018 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.