The U.S. government has voiced concerns over reports that Iran is developing long-range nuclear missiles with North Korea’s assistance, emphasizing that such cooperation would be a clear violation of the United Nations arms embargo on Pyongyang.
In response to media reports alleging missile collaboration between North Korea and Iran, the U.S. State Department stressed that this partnership would violate UN Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2270, which impose strict arms embargoes on North Korea.
“We are aware of the press reporting. We do not comment on intelligence matters,” a State Department spokesperson told Voice of America (VOA) on February 12. “The described collaboration would be a clear violation by both the DPRK and Iran of the UN arms embargo on the DPRK laid out in Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2270.”
UN Sanctions Prohibit Weapons Transfers to and from North Korea
UN Resolution 1718, adopted in October 2006 following North Korea’s first nuclear test, bans all UN member states from exporting nuclear and ballistic missile-related materials to Pyongyang.
In 2009, Resolution 1874 was passed after North Korea’s second nuclear test, expanding the ban to all weapons exports to and from North Korea. Resolution 2270, adopted in 2016 after Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test and long-range missile launch, further prohibits the transfer of any weapon-related components or technical services to or from North Korea.
British newspaper The Telegraph reported on January 31, citing intelligence from the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian opposition group, that Iran is developing nuclear-capable missiles with a range of 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) using blueprints provided by North Korea.
Key Missile Development Facilities Identified in Shahroud and Semnan
The report states that Iran’s missile development is concentrated at two key facilities in Shahroud and Semnan in northern Iran. At the Semnan Missile Base, the Simorgh missile—designed with North Korean involvement—is reportedly being developed.
According to The Telegraph, Iran, with North Korean support, has conducted at least three successful missile test launches, strengthening its capability to deploy nuclear weapons. If Iran achieves a 3,000-kilometer range, its missiles would not only target Israel but also reach parts of Europe.
Western intelligence agencies have long suspected that Iran has been disguising its military objectives by rebranding the Semnan Missile Base as the “Imam Khomeini Space Launch Center” and conducting ballistic missile tests under the guise of satellite launches.
The U.S. and its allies continue to monitor North Korea-Iran military cooperation, warning that it could destabilize regional security and violate international sanctions.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
