Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments NUCLEAR- AND MISSILE-RELATED TRADE AND DEVELOPMENTS FOR SELECTED COUNTRIES, JULY-OCTOBER 1998
by Michael Barletta, Clay Bowen, Gaurav Kampani, and Tamara Robinson
The material in this overview is drawn from selected abstracts that appear in the Center for Nonproliferation Studies’ nuclear and missile databases. Transactions of nuclear and missile technologies, parts, and materials are listed according to the recipient country. Other developments are listed according to the country where the event or development took place.
would be to facilitate nuclear commerce be- the Chinese had no way of knowing which tween China and Europe. It is believed that chips held the encryption codes. According ASIA the EC will also seek to convince China “to to industry officials, only Loral employees enlarge China’s offer to the [International in California would have been able to tell Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)] under its the chips apart by comparing company voluntary safeguards agreement and put records with code numbers on the half- specific Chinese facilities under IAEA safe- melted hardware. A Clinton administration CHINA guards, as well as to submit an expanded official was quoted as saying that the Na- Nuclear declaration of its nuclear activities to the tional Security Agency did not think the IAEA,” as a part of its Model Additional missing chips were a major concern. He also Japanese police searched more than 20 loca- Protocol. The negotiations will not cover raised the point that if the Chinese wanted tions related to Hitachi Electronics Ltd. for nuclear accident liability because China is the encryption chips, they would have taken possible connections to the suspected illegal not a member of the Vienna International all the chips, since all the chips looked alike. export of high-tech equipment to China. It Liability Convention. According to US officials present when the is believed that the equipment could be used Mark Hibbs, Nucleonics Week, 24 September 1998, satellite crashed, the “Chinese had not taken by China to improve its nuclear weapons. p. 3. anything because they were too busy deal- The searches were conducted to determine Missile ing with the emergency, and had made no whether Hitachi cooperated with Tokyo- It remains unclear whether China acquired apparent effort to pick up any of the circuit based Ryokosha Co. employees in export- classified information from a commercial boards.” ing unauthorized instruments to China. Loral Space & Communications satellite John Mintz, Washington Post, 8 July 1998, p. 24. Police reported that 18 instruments worth that crashed in February 1996 after being Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 9 July 1998, p. 1. ¥231 million were exported to Harbin, a city launched in China. It is possible that China in northeastern China, via South Korea in retrieved two encryption devices from the According to a US Air Force classified in- December 1996. wreckage “compromising US communica- telligence report, it is possible that US tech- Daily Yomiuri, [Online] http://www.yomiuri.co.jp, 8 August 1998. tion codes.” The other possibility is that the nology could aid China in developing a codes and devices were destroyed in the multiple warhead deployment capability. In The European Commission (EC) has sought crash. The encryption chips were two 1996, the Chinese developed an upper-stage a formal mandate from the European Coun- among more than 1,000 chips built into 100 booster called a “smart dispenser,” for the cil to negotiate a nuclear cooperation agree- circuit boards used in the satellite. The chips Long March 2C/SD rocket. China built this ment with China. The aim of the agreement were indistinguishable from the others so as part of a Motorola contract to be able to
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 151 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments conduct double satellite launches “needed in the region and spark a new arms race in pected to take seven years to install the first for a new global telephone network.” The the region.” nuclear reactor. US Air Force intelligence center con- Indian Express, [Online] http//www.indian- Vladimir Radyuhin, The Hindu, [Online] http:// ducted a study to determine whether “the express.com, 23 September 1998. www.webpage.com/hindu, 21 July 1998. satellite dispenser could be adapted by the Chinese for a first-generation, three-war- INDIA Official Indian sources said in late July 1998 head ‘post-boost vehicle’ for the CSS-4 Nuclear that in the wake of India’s recent nuclear tests, India is concentrating on completing and other intercontinental ballistic mis- Senior Indian officials reported that India its nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) pro- siles (ICBMs).” The intelligence center does not have a command and control doc- gram known as the Advanced Technology did not find any evidence that China was trine for its nuclear weapons. Indian Defence Vessel (ATV). The ATV project has been taking steps to use the dispenser for war- Minister George Fernandes reported that under way since the 1970s and a boat is ex- heads. If it did, however, the system India’s National Security Council (NSC) pected to be commissioned in 2007 or 2008. would be less accurate than comparable would determine India’s nuclear doctrine. The submarine will be used to launch Russian and US systems. A computer However, the NSC has not yet been estab- nuclear-armed missiles. The ATV will also simulation suggested that a Chinese stra- lished. tegic missile fitted with the satellite dis- Dinesh Kumar, Times of India, [Online] http:// play a role in surveillance and deterrence penser could fire three separate warheads www.timesofindia.com, 2 July 1998. operations off the coast of China. The ATV at intervals over several seconds after the project is based on the Russian Charlie-I booster rocket burned out. Motorola says The UK Foreign Office reported that it class cruise missile submarine. Indian Navy it had no role in the development of the would tighten sanctions on the export of officials close to the project say that the prob- smart dispenser. However, it did provide nuclear-related materials to India and Paki- lem until now has been miniaturizing the technical data to make it compatible with stan in response to the nuclear tests both nuclear reactor. Motorola satellites. Motorola also said Rahul Bedi, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 22 July 1998, countries conducted in May 1998. The For- p. 26. that the US Department of Defense eign Office said that “export licenses would cleared all information given to the Chi- be denied for items that could assist the two On 4 August 1998, Indian Prime Minister nese. countries’ nuclear programs and close scru- Atal Behari Vajpayee announced the three Bill Gertz, Washington Times, 14 July 1998, p. 1. tiny would be given to other military items.” elements of India’s new “evolving nuclear The Foreign Office also said that Indian and doctrine.” First, India will maintain a “mini- China has lobbied the UN Conference on Pakistani citizens would be denied access to mum but credible nuclear deterrent.” Disarmament (CD) in Geneva to establish British nuclear plants. a negotiating committee to prevent a “Star BBC News, [Online] http://www.news.bbc.co.uk, 10 Vajpayee said that India requires no further Wars” arms race in outer space. China’s July 1998. nuclear testing to maintain the credibility of ambassador to the CD, Li Changhe, has its nuclear deterrent. Second, India will never said that by turning outer space into a base On 9 July 1998, the US Senate approved the use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear for weapons, regional and global strate- Farm Export Relief Bill. The bill exempted states, nor will it be the first to use nuclear gic stability would be undermined, a new food exports from sanctions the United weapons against nuclear states. Lastly, In- arms race would begin, and international States imposed on India and Pakistan fol- dia is committed to all non-discriminatory peace and security would be threatened. lowing their nuclear tests. Senator Trent Lott arms control and disarmament agreements. Times of India, [Online] http:// According to US Ambassador Robert said that if the bill was not implemented, US www.timesofindia.com, 4 August 1998. Indian Grey, the United States does not believe wheat farmers would lose approximately $37 Express, [Online] http://www.indian-express.com, there is an arms race in outer space and million in revenue in 1998. Senator Richard 5 August 1998. therefore sees no reason to form a com- Lugar said that “food should not be a weapon mittee on it. The United States was the of foreign policy.” Unidentified sources reported that the US only country at the Geneva talks opposed Eric Schmitt, New York Times, [Online] http:// Department of Commerce is investigating www.nytimes.com, 10 July 1998. to forming a negotiating committee. allegations that Themis, a California-based Washington Post, 14 August 1998, p. 18A. computer company, illegally sold micropro- India’s director of the Nuclear Power Cor- cessor chips to India. The sources said that China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mr. poration, Dr. Y.S.R. Prasad, and Russia’s Themis sold the chips to India’s Advanced Zhu Bangzao, warned Japan and the United general director of Atomstroiexport, Viktor Numerical Research Analysis Group, which States against developing a missile defense Kozlov, signed a project report contract for is affiliated with India’s Defence Research system “to counter future threats from North Kudankulam on 20 July 1998. Under the and Development Organization (DRDO). Korea.” He said that, “[Japan and the United contract, India’s Kudankulam nuclear power The chips were legally shipped without US States] should exercise restraint and refrain station will receive two 1,000 MW light Department of Commerce approval. How- from doing anything that may cause tensions water reactors from Russia. Russia is ex- ever, the sale would be illegal if the chips
152 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments were installed in Indian supercomputers India’s Tarapur nuclear power station. Two partment of State officials said that several used in nuclear weapons development or 500 MW reactors are planned for Tarapur. concessions would be required of India and testing. UI News Briefing-98.37, 9-15 September 1998. Pakistan before sanctions would be lifted. Indian Express, [Online] http://www.indian- Among the issues discussed were signing the express.com, 17 August 1998. Director of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), es- Atomic Research (IGCAR) P. Rodriguez tablishment of a regime dealing with nuclear Following the US-Russian summit in early said that construction of a prototype fast weapons and delivery systems, creation of September 1998, reports suggested the Rus- breeder reactor at Kalpakkam will begin in an export control system, and a moratorium sian government had agreed to stop all de- 2001 and the reactor will be operational in on the production of fissile material. fense cooperation with India, including 2008. The reactor is being built through Shaheen Sehbai, Dawn, [Online] http:// nuclear and conventional arms transfers. collaboration between the public sector and www.dawn.com, 29 September 1998. Both the United States and Russia agreed to related industries. Rodriguez said that fast work together to persuade India and Paki- breeder reactors will be commissioned to Missile stan to reverse their arms race, and to ex- meet the estimated demand for electricity in Russian General Alexander Luzan offered pand US-Russian communication. Indian 2020. to sell India an anti-ballistic missile system Defense Minister George Fernandes said he Indian Express, 14 September 1998; in FBIS-TAC- (ABM) that would be capable of countering has “no doubt” that Russia will stand by In- 98-257, 14 September 1998. an attack from Pakistan’s Ghauri medium- dia and “not succumb to US pressure.” range ballistic missile. The ABM system Fernandes said Clinton’s comment that Rus- Indian defense officials and nuclear scien- would be based on technology from the SA- sian assistance to India could cause a war tists rejected the findings of a study by US 12 Giant and the “Antey-2500” mobile mis- between the nuclear superpowers implied “a seismological experts stating that India and sile systems. Luzan said that the ABM belief that Asian people cannot be trusted Pakistan had exaggerated the number and system would be able to intercept a “foot- with nuclear weapons.” On 11 September yield of their nuclear tests in May 1998. The ball size warhead with 98 percent accuracy.” 1998, however, the US embassy in India re- DRDO stood by its original statement that Indian Express, [Online] http://www.indian- leased a statement denying that the United India conducted five nuclear tests over two express.com, 2 July 1998. States had asked Russia to stop all military days with a combined yield of approxi- cooperation with India. The US embassy mately 60 kt. An official at India’s Bhabha US Assistant Secretary of State Karl statement said that no US official “has asked Atomic Research Center said that the US Inderfurth reported that, as of 15 July 1998, any country to suspend its military relation- equipment must not have been sensitive the United States was no longer asking In- ship with either India or Pakistan.” Embassy enough to detect the sub-kiloton explosions. dia or Pakistan to stop testing or building its sources said, however, that several countries The Nation (Lahore), 17 September 1998. ballistic missiles. Instead, the United States had unilaterally decided to cut military ties asked both countries to refrain from deploy- with India and Pakistan in an attempt to push Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee ing their ballistic missiles. US Senator them “to move in the direction favored by spoke before the UN General Assembly in Charles Robb said that “we must be realis- the international community.” Embassy New York on 24 September 1998. In his first tic about what we are asking the two coun- sources said that during the summit meet- international address since India’s 11 May tries to do.” ings, Clinton and Yeltsin agreed only to re- and 13 May 1998 nuclear tests, he defended Indian Express, [Online] http://www.indian- express.com, 15 July 1998. new their “commitment to persuade India India’s nuclear position. He highlighted four and Pakistan to reverse their arms race.” main topics: the declaration that India is now When asked whether Clinton wanted Rus- a nuclear weapons state, its determination India’s minister of state for external affairs, sia to stop military cooperation with India, to pursue nuclear restraint, its readiness to Vasundhara Raje, said that US sanctions im- embassy sources said, “there was no such cooperate with the global nuclear order, and posed after India conducted its nuclear tests discussion.” its commitment to the goal of nuclear disar- would not affect its ongoing satellite and Shaheen Sehbai, Dawn, [Online] http:// mament. space launch vehicle projects. Raje said that www.dawn.com, 3 September 1998. Dinesh Kumar, C. Raja Mohan, The Hindu, [Online] http:// a cooperative agreement was made between Times of India, [Online] http:// www.hinduonline.com, 22 September 1998. NASA and the National Oceanographic and www.timesofindia.com, 3 September 1998; Indian Express, 3 September 1998, [Online] http:// Atmospheric Administration of the United www.indian-express.com. The Hindu, [Online] http:/ On 28 September 1998, the US Senate and States and the Department of Space and /www.hinduonline.com, 11 September 1998. Indian House of Representatives reached an agree- Department of Science and Technology of Express, [Online] http://www.indian-express.com, India for cooperation in the areas of earth 11 September 1998. ment on the so-called Brownback amend- ment to allow President Bill Clinton to waive and atmospheric sciences. sanctions against Pakistan and India for one Indian Express, [Online] http://www.indian- Construction has begun on a 500 MW pres- express.com, 15 July 1998. surized heavy water reactor (PHWR) at year. Although the amendment would pro- vide the authority to waive sanctions, US De-
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 153 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
On 3 August 1998, India successfully test- The ISRO launched a Rohini sounding Missile ramjet missile at the interim test range at rocket on 28 September 1998. The rocket On 20 September 1998, the United States Chanipur. The missile is capable of strik- was one of three sounding rockets and Japan agreed to conduct joint research ing multiple targets within a 25 km radius. launched since 19 April 1998 to study the on a ballistic missile defense system to pro- The Hindu, [Online] http://www.webpage.com/ “equatorial ionosphere.” The rocket was tect Japan from attack. Both the United hindu, 4 August 1998. developed by German and other European States and Japan have conducted previous Defence Minister George Fernandes said on laboratories and had a 127 kg payload. studies of missile defense systems, and will 11 August 1998 that India had begun devel- The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS- now combine their research and develop- oping a longer-range version of the Agni ID), launched 29 September 1997, has ment efforts. According to US Secretary of intermediate-range ballistic missile. The completed one year of operation. Defense William Cohen, “this is the best way Times of India, [Online] http://www.timesofindia.com, to protect both the United States and Japan.” new missile would have an estimated range 30 September 1998. of 2,500 km, which is 1,000 km greater than The joint agreement follows North Korea’s the old version. It would also be capable of failed attempt on 31 August 1998 to launch Indian Chief of Naval Operations Admiral carrying a nuclear warhead. Fernandes said a satellite into orbit. Vishnu Bhagwat on 2 October 1998 stated that the upgraded Agni would use technolo- USA Today, [Online] http://www.usatoday.com, 20 the importance of a submarine-based, sec- September 1998. gies that were developed indigenously by ond-strike nuclear capability for India’s new Indian engineers. He reported that sanctions command-and-control doctrine. In addition, imposed by the United States after India con- According to the director of Japan’s Science Bhagwat said that the Indian Navy would ducted its nuclear tests in May 1998 would and Technology Agency (STA), Yutaka rely on information technology and infor- not affect its missile program. Takeyama, the STA intends to begin reviews Inquisit, [Online] http://www.inquisit.com, 11 Au- mation warfare in order to meet the demands and research on developing a multipurpose gust 1998. Indian Express, [Online] http:// of the 21st century. Bhagwat said that India’s observation satellite. The detection of a mis- www.indian-express.com, 12 August 1998. strategic interests cover the “entire Indian sile launched at Japan would be the project’s Ocean up to West Asia including the Per- main focus, he said. In addition, Takeyama Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, protesting sian Gulf, the Red Sea and the western litto- said that the project will be based on a 1969 India’s 2 September 1998 test-firing of the rals, the Pacific up to the South China Sea.” Diet resolution, “which limits the develop- Akash surface-to-air missile, warned that The Hindu, 2 October 1998; in FBIS-TAC-98-275, ment and use of outer space to peaceful pur- 2 October 1998. such a missile program could “provoke a poses.” new arms race in South Asia.” Kagaku Kogyo Nippo (Tokyo), 9 September 1998; JAPAN Indian Express, [Online] http://www.indian- in FBIS-EAS-98-265, 22 September 1998. express.com, 3 September 1998. Nuclear An early conclusion is expected for an agree- KAZAKHSTAN On 24 September 1998 the Indian Space Re- ment between Japan and Euratom that would Nuclear search Organization (ISRO) acknowledged redefine Japan’s bilateral atomic power agree- Kazakhstani Prime Minister Nurlan the delivery of a cryogenic booster from ments with Europe. Electric power compa- Balgimbayev said at a press conference in Russia, which the ISRO will use to develop nies in Japan are writing a proposal that would Almaty on 4 August 1998 that the creation its own heavy geostationary space launch allow Japan to reprocess 7,100 tons of spent of a joint venture between Kazatomprom vehicle (GSLV). This was the first of seven uranium fuel with France’s KOJEM Co. and and the Russian company TVEL would be such boosters Russia is to deliver to India. Britain’s Nuclear Fuel Company. The pro- “a good decision, as technologically ura- Russia flew the booster to Chinnai, Madras posal requires that: (1) plutonium and enriched nium production in Kazakhstan is indis- Province, from which it will be delivered to uranium recovered in reprocessing be pro- solubly linked with Russia.” Balgimbayev the Shriharikota space center. There the cessed into Pluthermal mixed-oxide (MOX) also said that Kazakhstan should seek ura- booster will be joined with other stages of fuel and then re-enriched, and (2) materials nium sales markets in countries with Soviet- the GSLV. The ISRO is planning to conduct be transferred and reprocessed in facilities in made nuclear reactors, particularly in its first launch in mid-1999. The booster is Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and the Eastern Europe and Ukraine. designed to carry satellites weighing up to United Kingdom. Japan already has bilateral Interfax-Kazakhstan, 4 August 1998; in FBIS-SOV- 5,000 lbs into a geostationary orbit. The security agreements with France and the 98-218. static tests for India’s first cryogenic rocket United Kingdom, and is beginning negotia- engine will begin by February 1999. It is ex- tions with Belgium and the Netherlands. It pected to be ready for use by 2002. also exchanged documents with Euratom in KYRGYZSTAN Leonid Kotov, ITAR-TASS, 24 September 1998; in February 1997 guaranteeing the peaceful use Nuclear FBIS-SOV-98-268, 25 September 1998. of MOX processing in Belgium. At a meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Japan Atomic Energy Industrial Newsletter, 16 July 9-10 July 1998, experts from the foreign 1998, p. 1. ministries of the five Central Asian states—
154 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turk- GAO report found many monitoring prob- nuclear processing plant. If it is intended to menistan, and Uzbekistan—met with their lems that affected the International Atomic be a nuclear facility, US intelligence offi- counterparts from the five nuclear weapon Energy Agency’s (IAEA) “ability to ensure cials estimate that it will take two to six years states and the United Nations to discuss on- that North Korea is complying fully with to complete, depending upon the amount of going efforts to establish a Central Asian certain aspects of the nuclear freeze.” North foreign assistance received. White House Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ). Korea has not allowed the IAEA to install and Pentagon officials are concerned that the The Central Asian delegates jointly pre- monitoring devices on the nuclear waste complex may be North Korea’s effort to end sented a document containing the “basic el- tanks. The tanks are connected to “a com- the four-year-old Agreed Framework with ements” of a draft treaty on the establishment plex and inaccessible piping system that, if the United States. South Korean officials, of the CANWFZ and received comments operating, would permit the waste to be re- however, have downplayed US intelligence and recommendations on the document from moved and/or altered.” The report warns that reports of the complex. They are concerned their US, Russian, British, French, Chinese, the tanks may have been tampered with since it might undermine South Korean President and UN colleagues. In a communiqué issued the 1994 agreement and that North Korea may Kim Dae Jung’s “sunshine policy,” which after the meeting, the Central Asian states have “secretly removed some of the nuclear is aimed at reopening aid and communica- noted “some progress” had been made in waste in an effort to hide evidence of earlier tion ties with North Korea. Given the re- drafting the treaty creating the zone and diversions of plutonium.” North Korea has ad- cent intelligence findings, however, it is pledged to continue consultations with the mitted to holding a total of 90 grams of pluto- unlikely that Congress will authorize funds nuclear weapon states and the United Na- nium, but US intelligence agencies believe that for heavy fuel oil shipments to North Ko- tions as negotiations on the treaty continue. the stockpile developed before 1994 actually rea. In the absence of funding for shipments, Communiqué of the Consultative Meeting of Ex- contains several kilograms, enough for two North Korea would have an excuse to disre- perts of the Central Asian Countries, the Nuclear- bombs. The GAO report stated there is no gard the Agreed Framework and expel IAEA Weapon States and the United Nations (5+5+UN), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 9-10 July 1998. way to know “how much bomb-grade pluto- inspectors from Yongbyon. North Korea has nium the North Koreans have diverted to their already prohibited inspectors from examin- weapons program.” Murkowski said that the ing sites other than Yongbyon. NORTH KOREA GAO report “made clear that the 1994 nuclear- David E. Sanger, New York Times, 17 August 1998, Nuclear freeze agreement between North Korea and p. 1. Dana Priest, Washington Post, 26 August 1998, p. 16. North Korea has threatened to restart its the United States was folly.” The Clin- nuclear weapons program. It has accused the ton administration is hopeful that North On 10 September 1998, the US Clinton ad- United States of breaching commitments it Korea might be prevented from building ministration announced a package of agree- made under the 1994 Agreed Framework. nuclear weapons. ments for North Korea “aimed at defusing North Korea recently began maintenance Philip Shenon, New York Times, [Online] http:// www.nytimes.com, 15 July 1998. tensions on the Korean peninsula and restart- work on the plutonium plant it shut down ing stalled diplomatic initiatives.” Accord- when the 1994 Agreed Framework was ing to the US State Department, US signed. US officials believe that North Korea Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander negotiators have demanded that a suspected has the technological capability to restart its Downer has said that the Australian govern- underground nuclear weapons development nuclear program. ment will contribute US$1.2 million to the Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post, 6 July 1998, Korean Peninsula Energy Development Or- site in North Korea be opened to interna- p. 1. ganization (KEDO). Since 1995, Australia tional inspectors. This is a “non-negotiable has donated US$6.6 million to KEDO for condition for further US compliance” with The chairman of the US Senate Energy and its heavy fuel oil program. the 1994 framework agreement. Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post, 11 Septem- Natural Resources Committee, Senator Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network, [Online] http://www.nautilus.org, 24 July 1998. ber 1998, p. 25. Frank Murkowski, has ordered the General Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate the On 28 September 1998, a US government 1994 Agreed Framework and make its re- US intelligence agencies have evidence of source said that North Korea had resumed port to Congress. An earlier GAO report what they believe to be North Korea’s ef- packing of spent nuclear fuel rods in con- found that there were “significant gaps” in fort to resume its nuclear weapons program. tainers, which had been suspended since the inspection program imposed on North Spy satellites have photographed the con- April 1998. Korea after the signing of the agreement. struction of a huge, secret underground com- plex 25 miles northeast of Yongbyon. Some Inquisit, [Online] http://www.inquisit.com, 29 Sep- According to the report, North Korea has tember 1998. refused numerous requests for information 15,000 workers are constructing the new regarding the whereabouts of nuclear com- facility in a mountainside. While the exact North Korea has threatened to restart its ponents, which North Korea planned to in- nature of the construction is not known, US nuclear weapons program if the United stall in the two reactors that were shut down intelligence has concluded that the facility States cuts fuel and food aid to the country. in accordance with the agreement. The is intended to be either a nuclear reactor or a
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 155 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
According to a North Korean Foreign Min- far. Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon pensation of $500 million in return for not istry spokesman, the United States has not said that the solid-fueled three-stage mis- exporting missile technology. fulfilled its portion of the 1994 Agreed sile has an estimated range of 2,408 to Pacific Stars and Stripes, 2 October 1998, p. 4. Framework, in which it promised to supply 3,720 miles. The discovery of North Chicago Tribune, 4 October 1998. James Hackett, Washington Times, 18 September 1998. two light water reactors, heavy oil, and im- Korea’s satellite program has come as a prove bilateral ties. Construction of the re- complete surprise to US intelligence agen- actors has not gone beyond the cies. According to the Central Intelli- PAKISTAN groundbreaking ceremony. Heavy oil ship- gence Agency, North Korea’s effort to Nuclear ments have not been delivered on schedule, build the satellite was not “something that Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Shamshad and only a few sanctions against North Ko- was widely reported.” North Korea did, Ahmed said that Pakistan had re-evalu- rea have been lifted. however, make a statement in the early ated its position on the Comprehensive South China Morning Post, [Online] http:// 1990s that it was seeking a space launch www.scmp.com, 15 October 1998. Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Fissile and satellite capability. The announce- Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT). Ahmed ment came shortly after South Korea said that Pakistan believes that both trea- Missile launched a satellite into orbit. Until the ties became obsolete after India conducted On 31 August 1998, North Korea conducted launch, the US intelligence community its nuclear tests on 11 May 1998. Ahmed the first flight test of its two-stage interme- believed that North Korea only had the also said that Pakistan’s position would diate-range Taepo-dong-1 missile. It was technological capability for a single-stage “depend on an objective assessment of the longest flight of any North Korean mis- missile. India’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities Joseph S. Bermudez, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 9 Sep- sile test, and was the first firing of a ballistic and future orientation.” In addition, missile since the May 1993 Nodong-1 test. tember 1998, p. 26. Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, [Online] http://www.nytimes.com, 5 Septem- Ahmed said that Pakistan’s nuclear deto- The Taepo-dong-1 was launched from the ber 1998. Washington Post, 15 September 1998, p. nations were only an “expression of self- Hwadaegun Missile Test Facility on the east A13. Bill Gertz, Washington Times, 16 September defense.” Unlike India, said Ahmed, 1998, p. 1. coast of North Korea. The first stage of the Pakistan has shown “no desire in acquir- missile separated soon after lift-off, landing ing a formal nuclear status.” in international waters approximately 300 Anonymous US government sources said an Dawn, [Online] http//dawn.com, 1 July 1998. km from the launch site. The second stage Iranian team attended North Korea’s Taepo- continued east over the Japanese island of dong missile launch on 31 August 1998. The Dr. Iftikhar Chaudhry Khan, a Pakistani Honshu and landed in the Pacific Ocean. US sources said they had evidence indicat- who claimed to be a nuclear scientist, ap- The total flight distance was estimated to be ing that the Iranian team had probably been plied for political asylum in the United 1,380 km. On 4 September 1998, North in North Korea since 20 August 1998. The States on 1 July 1998. Khan said that he Korea announced that the purpose of the Iranian embassy in Japan released a state- had information regarding Pakistan’s launch of the two-stage rocket was to place ment on 8 September 1998 denying the pres- nuclear program that included details of a satellite in orbit, not to test a missile. The ence of an Iranian delegation at the missile China’s and Iran’s assistance in the tests. Korean Central News Agency said that the launch. Khan said he defected from Pakistan be- North Koreans had succeeded in “launch- AFP, 8 September 1998; in FBIS-EAS-98-250, 7 cause Pakistan was considering a first- ing the first artificial satellite aboard a multi- September 1998. strike nuclear attack against India. stage rocket into orbit,” and that it was Pakistani officials said that Pakistan does “transmitting the melody of the immortal On 1 October 1998, US officials led by not discuss its political agenda with sci- revolutionary hymns,” at 27 MHZ. The sat- Assistant Secretary of State Robert entists or Khan, who they say was “a low- ellite is said to carry sounding instruments, Einhorn held missile-related talks with level engineer and did not have access to which “will contribute to promoting scien- North Korea. Discussion focused on such information.” Pakistanis residing in tific research for peaceful use of outer North Korea’s production and export of New York said that Khan was merely try- space.” Scud missiles and missile-related technol- ing to secure a green card, and “the Ameri- On 15 September 1998, the United ogy and equipment. US officials warned cans are so gullible that they believe him.” States confirmed that North Korea tried, North Korea that additional missile Masood Haider, Dawn, [Online] http:// and failed, to place a satellite in orbit dur- launches or exports could invite negative www.dawn.com, 2 July 1998. ing the 31 August launch. US intelligence consequences. North Korea rejected a US agencies tracked debris from the launch demand to stop testing and exporting bal- According to an unnamed source, US offi- nearly 4,000 miles into the Pacific Ocean. listic missiles. The United States offered cials believe that Pakistan is producing According to one US official, the satel- North Korea improved relations if it “re- weapons-grade plutonium at the Khusab lite broke into several pieces just seconds strained its missile tests and exports.” Ac- nuclear reactor. US officials are also alleg- before reaching orbit, indicating that a cording to US sources, North Korea has edly concerned that Pakistan may be pro- warhead “could potentially have gone that asked the United States for an annual com-
156 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments ducing weapons-grade highly enriched ura- would make a decision about signing it. Pakistani officials said that the missile was nium. Nasir Malick, Dawn, [Online] http:// found approximately 10 km from Kharam, Nucleonics Week, 16 July 1998, p. 2. www.dawn.com, 26 August 1998. near the site where Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests in May. Previous reports made According to Pakistani industry officials, Missile on 22 August 1998 by the Pakistani Foreign centrifuges are being produced at the Paki- Al-Akhbar, a Pakistani newspaper, reported Office claimed that a US cruise missile ex- stan Steel Mills, and they have been used in on 19 July 1998 that Pakistan had ploded in Pakistan, killing six people. The uranium enrichment for the past several “manufactured” a new intermediate-range Pakistani government later retracted the state- months. The Pakistan Steel Mills operate ballistic missile named Abdali. The missile ment on the grounds that it was based on er- under the Kahuta Laboratories. The Mills are has an estimated range of 3,500 km. Al- roneous information. producing 40,000 tons of “different types of Akhbar said that the Abdali’s “laboratory Saleem Shahid, Dawn, [Online] http:// chemical [sic] and special steel,” including tests had been successful and that the mis- www.dawn.com, 24 August 1998. low-carbon maraging steel, which has ap- sile could be tested at anytime in open air.” A US official reported that US Air Force CDISS, [Online] http://www.cdiss.org, 19 July 1998. plications for Pakistan’s defense industries General Joseph Ralston, vice chairman of and nuclear program. Dr. Abdul Qadeer the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in Pakistan on Khan, head of the Kahuta Research Labora- Pakistani scientist Dr. Samar 20 August 1998. Ralston was there to make tories, explained the importance of the Mills, Mubarakmand, director of Pakistan’s sure that Pakistan did not mistake the US stating that Pakistan cannot import such ma- Atomic Energy Commission, said that cruise missile strike against Afghanistan for terials due to international sanctions. Pakistan is able to test-fire the Shaheen-1 a pre-emptive attack by India. In addition, Pakistan Link, [Online] http:// at any time. The Shaheen-1 is a medium- www.pakistanlink.com, 19 August 1998. the official said that Pakistan’s air defenses range surface-to-surface ballistic missile were unable to detect the US strike. with an estimated range of 750 km. The Nation (Lahore), [Online] http:// Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Mubarakmand said that “we can conduct www.nation.com.pk, 25 August 1998. announced on 21 August 1998 that the the first test-fire of the Shaheen missile Chashma Nuclear Power Project, at any time, but it depends on the deci- Pakistani Ambassador Ahmed Kamal filed Pakistan’s second nuclear power plant, sion of the government to carry out the a complaint with the UN Security Council would begin producing electricity in test.” on 24 August 1998, saying that the United 1999. The plant has a production capac- Pakistani Link Headlines, [Online] http:// States had violated Pakistan’s airspace. www.pakistanlink.com, 9 August 1998. ity of 300 MW and has been built with Kamal said that the violation occurred when help from China. Sharif said that complet- US cruise missiles struck a terrorist camp in ing the Chashma project “may enable Pa- US cruise missile attacks on Afghanistan Afghanistan on 20 August 1998. kistan to have prototype plants for other conducted on 20 August 1998 revealed Betsy Pisik, Washington Times, [Online] http:// nuclear programs.” that US Tomahawk missiles can fly un- www.washtimes.com, 25 August 1998. A.R. Kamal, Islamabad Radio (Pakistan Network), detected through Pakistani airspace. Pa- 23 August 1998; in FBIS-NES-98-235, 23 August kistani scientists are rethinking their 1998. Pakistan Link, 25 August 1998, [Online] http:/ Pakistani security sources said that Paki- /www.pakistanlink.com. claims that Pakistan has an impenetrable stani scientists were examining various defense system safeguarding its nuclear components of the US Tomahawk cruise installations. Pakistan’s top nuclear sci- On 25 August 1998, Pakistani Foreign missile that was found unexploded on 21 entist, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, said that Secretary Shamshad Ahmad said that Pa- August 1998. The scientists are studying “Pakistan has no capability to counter kistan would consider signing the Com- the guidance system, onboard computer, these missiles because the Tomahawk prehensive Test Ban Treaty if economic and propulsion system. An unidentified missile flies so low that Pakistani radars sanctions were lifted. He did not comment Pakistani official said that the find was a are unable to detect it.” Pakistani Prime on Pakistan’s earlier view that it would “jackpot” and included the Global Posi- Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting not sign the CTBT until India had done tioning System and other technological on 23 August 1998 that discussed US at- so, but said that Pakistan would not sign improvements made to the Tomahawks tacks on Afghanistan and Sudan and the the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. since the 1991 Gulf War. However, Re- “overall preparedness of the country’s Ahmad said that Pakistan has “established tired US Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney armed forces, safeguarding its nuclear in- a strategic balance vis-a-vis India and at- expressed doubt about the significance of stallations.” tained a minimum deterrent capability.” the Pakistani find. He said that “when a Pakistan Link, [Online] http://www.pakistanlink.com, cruise missile crashes it’s like dropping a He said that once Pakistani officials felt 23 August 1998. that the atmosphere of “coercion” to sign Waterford crystal glass. They are very fragile and are not designed to bounce.” the CTBT was gone and “its national in- An unexploded US Tomahawk cruise missile terests were fully safeguarded,” Pakistan In addition, McInerney said that what did was found on 22 August 1998 in Pakistan. not break on impact would probably have
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 157 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments been burned by the missile’s fuel, which time South Korea had tried to develop nuclear visit. A report stated that the missile flew at would ignite on impact. weapons, but since then has chosen “a nuclear- four times the speed of sound and success- Kamran Khan, Washington Post, [Online] http:// free path.” The statement confirmed “widely fully hit its target. However, no other details www.washingtonpost.com, 28 August 1998. circulated accounts by aides of former Presi- have been released. The anti-ballistic missile Official unnamed Pakistani sources said that dent Park Chung Hee that [South Korea] had is a modified version of Taiwan’s Sky Bow-2 Pakistan discovered a second unexploded US come close to developing a nuclear bomb in anti-aircraft missile. the late 1970s.” The project did not go through South China Morning Post, [Online] http:// Tomahawk cruise missile. The missile, one www.scmp.com, 4 August 1998. of several targeted at a terrorist camp in Af- because of the assassination of the president ghanistan on 20 August 1998, was discovered in 1979. BTOnline, [Online] http://www.business- Taiwan has completed deployment of Patriot in the Hoshab sub-district of the Mekran times.asia1.com, 29 August 1998. Advanced Capability Level 2 (PAC-2) sur- coastal area off the Arabian Sea. The other face-to-air missiles around Taipei. The PAC- US cruise missile was found in the Kharan Missile 2 missile is an upgraded version of the Patriot district of Baluchistan province on 21 August missile used in the 1990-91 Gulf War. In 1998. South Korea has decided to develop a 300- Indian Express, [Online] http://www.indian- km-range ballistic missile to deter North Ko- 1993, the United States sold 200 Patriot mis- express.com, 31 August 1998. rea. It has lobbied the United States to alter siles to Taiwan. Patriot missiles are also de- the 1979 US-South Korean agreement that ployed around Hsintein, Nankang, and A senior Pakistani official said that Pakistan limits South Korean missiles to a maximum Linkou. Taiwan is working to develop its own has given the two unexploded US Tomahawk range of 180 km. Although both the United anti-ballistic missile weaponry, which will cruise missiles to “its scientific organizations States and South Korea have agreed in prin- require an estimated five years to complete. ciple to amend the agreement, no formal de- Hong Kong Standard China, [Online] http:// which are working on different missile pro- www.hkstandard.com, 25 August 1998. grams, including a cruise missile project.” Ex- cision has been reached. perts from the Pakistan Army Bomb Disposal John Larkin, South China Morning Post, [Online] http://www.scmp.com, 12 August 1998. Minister of National Defense Chian Chung- Unit have destroyed the warheads attached to ling has said that Taiwan is interested in join- the missiles. US Naval officials are not sure ing the US Theater Missile Defense (TMD) what technical advantage the US missiles can South Korea’s defense minister, Chun Yong project; however, it is in “no hurry to decide give Pakistan and said Pakistan probably does Taek, has announced plans to purchase an air whether or not to join it.” Citing TMD’s huge not possess the technical or manufacturing defense system by the year 2000. The US development cost and its imperfect perfor- expertise needed to successfully reverse-en- Patriot system and the Russian S-300 will mance to date, he said that Taiwan will not gineer them. According to a Foreign Office compete in the South Korean market. There join the program before studying it compre- spokesman, US authorities have made no at- are likely to be two Russian competitors, the hensively. tempt to examine the missiles. S-300V and the S-300PMU. Whereas a Pa- triot-based system is estimated to cost $1 bil- Central News Agency (Taiwan), 22 September 1998; Umer Farooq, The Nation (Lahore), [Online] http:// in FBIS-CHI-98-265, 22 September 1998. www.nation.com.pk, 4 September 1998. lion, an S-300 system would cost half as much. It has been speculated that South Korea’s mili- According to US intelligence officials, in tary will opt for the Russian S-300. South June 1998 North Korea delivered warhead Korea apparently has close contacts with the EUROPE canisters for the Ghauri medium-range bal- system’s manufacturer, Antey. The Russian listic missile and other various weapons ma- system is more sophisticated than any other terials to Pakistan. A 29 July 1998 US system that is likely to be on the market until congressional commission report on missile the year 2003. Aleksandr Yegorov, Kommersant Daily, 18 Septem- CYPRUS threats said that the Ghauri is a version of ber 1998. the North Korean Nodong medium-range Missile ballistic missile. The report’s authors said On 11 September 1998, Cypriot Defense AIWAN that “we believe Pakistan has acquired pro- T Minister Ioannis Omirou briefed a parlia- duction facilities for this missile as well.” Missile mentary committee on the possible purchase Bill Gertz, Washington Times, 14 September 1998, On 3 August 1998, Taiwan announced that it of Russian-built SA-15 Gauntlet surface-to- p. 3. had successfully carried out a preliminary test air missiles (SAM), if an agreement to pur- of a locally developed anti-ballistic missile. chase additional Italian-built Aspide Mk 1 SOUTH KOREA The test was held in mid-July at the Chiu Peng SAM missiles cannot be concluded. Accord- testing ground in southern Pintung county. It ing to Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, the Nuclear had been delayed since June so as not to an- government of Cyprus seeks to deploy ei- On 28 August 1998, South Korean Prime ger China during President Bill Clinton’s state ther the 18-km-range Aspide or 12-km-range Minister Kim Jong Pil announced that at one
158 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
SA-15 system on the island to guard against guided missiles and launching assemblies that only seven new reactors are to be built a possible attack by Turkey during deploy- to Greece. The ATACMS are part of a by 2010. ment of Russian-built S-300PMU-1 SAMs $306 million deal to supply Greece with David Johnson’s Russia List, No. 2297, 4 August on Cyprus. military equipment that also includes 200 1998. David Johnson’s Russia List, No. 2304, 10 August 1998. Jean Christou, Reuters, 11 September 1998. Cyprus AGM-65G Maverick missiles, 200 GBU- Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network (Nicosia), 24 A/B bomb kits, missile launchers, and 11 September 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-254, 11 Sep- On 2 September 1998, Russian President tember 1998. support equipment. According to the DOD, the proposed sale will not “ad- Boris Yeltsin and US President Bill Clinton versely effect either the military balance signed the “Joint Statement of Principles For GEORGIA in the region or US efforts to encourage a Management and Disposition of Plutonium Nuclear negotiated settlement of the Cyprus ques- Designated as No Longer Required for De- fense Purposes,” providing for the extrac- Dr. William C. Potter reported that the 2 kg tion.” tion of 50 metric tons of weapons-grade of highly enriched uranium (HEU) stored at DefenseLINK, [Online] http://www. defenselink.mil, 22 September 1998. plutonium by each country from dismantled the I.N. Vekua Physics and Technology In- nuclear warheads. Pledging that the pluto- stitute in Sukhumi, Georgia has disappeared. nium would never again be used in nuclear A physical inventory conducted in 1992 at RUSSIA weapons, the countries plan to use it as fuel the institute identified approximately 2 kg Nuclear for nuclear reactors or mix it with radioac- of HEU stored there; officials at the Insti- On 16 July 1998, the State Duma adopted tive waste (rendering it unusable) and place tute of Nuclear Physics in Tbilisi, Georgia a resolution recommending that the Rus- it in long-term storage. According to Viktor have said that the material is 90 percent en- sian government suspend its agreement Mikhailov, Russia’s first deputy minister of riched HEU. Sukhumi is located in with Germany to supply highly enriched atomic energy, it will take 15 to 20 years to Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia uranium for the Munich-2 research reac- process the 100 metric tons of plutonium, not currently under the control of the Geor- tor. The agreement, signed by the Minis- but he feels that this is “the most promising gian government. At the request of the Geor- try of Atomic Energy on behalf of the and rational approach” to dealing with weap- gian government, the IAEA and the Russian Russian government, gives Germany the ons-grade plutonium. Russia plans to pro- Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) at- right to re-export the uranium to other duce fuel from its 50 metric tons of tempted to conduct an inventory at the site, countries. The resolution was initiated by plutonium, while the United States will pro- but failed because of the ongoing political the Duma’s Committee on Defense Con- duce fuel from 43 metric tons and bury the instability in the region. According to Pot- version and Knowledge-Based Industries. remaining seven metric tons as an experi- ter, a Minatom team gained access to the Committee Deputy Chairman Aleksandr ment. Russia is cooperating with several facility in December 1997. The team found Pomorov said the agreement allows for other countries in the development of new the facility abandoned and no HEU at the the possibility of selling weapons-grade technology to use plutonium in the produc- site. It remains unclear when the HEU was uranium to other countries “for unknown tion of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel suitable for diverted or where it is currently located. purposes.” Two hundred and forty-nine William C. Potter, “A U.S. NGO Perspective on US- different types of reactors. Meanwhile, Igor Russian MPC&A Cooperation,” 39th Annual Meet- deputies supported the resolution, with Forofontov, coordinator of Greenpeace Rus- ing of the Institute for Nuclear Materials Manage- one vote against. sia, spoke out against the joint decision. He ment, Naples, Florida, 26-27 July 1998. Interfax, 16 July 1998; in FBIS-SOV-98-197. noted that Russia is not ready for the safe use of plutonium. As of 2 September 1998, Deputy Head of the National Center for Ra- According to Yevgeniy Ignatenko, direc- Russian reactors have produced an average diation Safety of the Georgian Ministry of tor of the state agency Rosenergoatom, of two and a half metric tons of plutonium Environmental Protection Soso Kakushadze Russia plans to construct 16 new nuclear per year, while only 150 kg can be burned stated that radioactive material discovered reactors by the year 2010. International annually as fuel. buried near a Ministry of Road Construc- lenders are being solicited to help finance Veronika Romanenkova, ITAR-TASS, 2 Septem- tion building in Tbilisi was enriched ura- the project, the estimated cost of which is ber 1998; in FBIS-SOV-98-245. Interfax, 2 Sep- tember 1998. nium. The Georgian Ministry of State about $18 billion. By the year 2010, nine Security is investigating the situation. existing reactors will be decommissioned Tbilisi Prime News, 31 October 1998; in FBIS-TEN- and the number of operating reactors will On 5 September 1998, a group of five ser- 98-306. rise from 29 to 36. Eight new power vicemen stationed at the Novaya Zemlya GREECE plants would come into operation, and the Central Test Site seized firearms and took Missile proportion of Russia’s electricity that is hostages while on duty there. The five men all served in Unit 707510, which is respon- On 22 September 1998, the US Department derived from nuclear power would in- sible for nuclear safety in the Russian armed of Defense (DOD) announced the sale of 81 crease from 12.8 percent to about 14.7 forces and were captured by the Russian Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) percent. However, ITAR-TASS reported
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 159 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
Federal Security Service (FSB). Regional guards Russia’s Mayak Production Associa- Nikolay Redin, deputy head of the Security Security Chief Sergey Poskrebetyev stated tion nuclear facility, shot and killed two of Information, Nuclear Materials, and Fa- that the men had no access to nuclear weap- guards and injured one more before fleeing cilities Department of the Russian Ministry ons. The servicemen have been charged with a submachine gun. of Atomic Energy (Minatom), told a Mos- with several crimes, including murder and German Galkin and Dmitry Zobkov, Kommersant- cow press conference on 28 October 1998 terrorism. Daily, 23 September 1998; in Universal Database that in the past three years there have been of Russian Newspapers, [Online] http:// Interfax, 5 September 1998; in FBIS news.eastview.com. Vladislav Pisanov, Trud (Mos- no cases involving the theft of nuclear ma- FTS19980905001919, 5 September 1998. ITAR- cow), 13 October 1998; in Universal Database of terials in Russia. Redin defined the terms TASS, 5 September 1998; in FBIS Russian Newspapers, [Online] http:// FTS19980905002459, 5 September 1998. “nuclear materials” as including only “ma- news.eastview.com. terials with enrichment levels above 80-90 percent, which are suitable for use in nuclear On 11 September 1998, a Russian sailor According to a 21 September 1998 report in weapons.” Redin also pointed out that from serving on a Bars or Akula-class nuclear at- NuclearFuel, Czech and German authorities 1992-1995 there had been 30 incidents in tack submarine commandeered a rifle and have traced highly enriched uranium (HEU) Russia involving the theft of nuclear mate- killed eight crew members. The sailor then seized in Landshut, Germany in July 1994 rials and radioactive isotopes. Redin attrib- barricaded himself in the submarine’s tor- and Prague, Czech Republic in December uted the drop in cases of radioactive pedo room where he committed suicide af- 1994 back to the Mayak Production Asso- materials theft to international efforts to im- ter threatening to blow up the ship. The ciation in Ozersk, Russia (formerly known prove nuclear materials protection, control, submarine, part of the Russian Navy’s as Chelyabinsk-65). European officials and accounting (MPC&A) in Russia. Redin Northern Fleet, is capable of carrying close to the investigation of these cases said cited the work of the Russian Methodologi- nuclear-armed torpedoes although none that the seizure in Landshut was the result cal and Training Center (RMTC), which were aboard at the time of the incident. The of a “sting” operation conducted by the Ba- trains Russian and NIS specialists in the submarine’s nuclear reactor was not in op- varian State Criminal Investigation Agency. theory and practice of MPC&A, as playing eration when the incident occurred. German agents posing as buyers arrested Aleksandr Konovalov, RIA Novosti, 11 September an important role in reducing theft of nuclear 1998; in FBIS FTS19980911000228, 11 Septem- suspects in Landshut with 0.8 grams of the materials. The RMTC was established in ber 1998. ITAR-TASS, 11 September 1998; in FBIS material. Subsequently, Czech authorities 1995 with assistance from the US Depart- FTS19980911000505, 11 September 1998. acting on a local tip arrested additional sus- ment of Energy and the European Union. pects in Prague, including a former Czech Interfax, 28 October 1998. The lead-cooled fast reactor (LCFR) being nuclear physicist, with 2.7 kg of the mate- developed at Institute of Power Equipment rial. According to this report, the material Missile (NIKIET) has been approved by Minister of seized in both instances came from the same Russia’s Raduga design bureau in Dubna, Atomic Energy Yevgeniy Adamov for con- source, and questioning of the suspects ar- Moscow Oblast, reportedly used income struction at Beloyarsk; the project is called rested in Prague led to the conclusion that from sales of its 3M80 Moskit [NATO des- BREST-300. The reactor has been praised the HEU had been stolen from the Mayak ignation SS-N-22 ‘Sunburn’] supersonic for its use of a mixed uranium/plutonium ni- facility and then sold to smugglers who anti-ship missiles to develop two new mis- tride fuel and a reprocessing method that hoped to sell it in Europe. Police authorities siles now being offered to the Russian Navy. would partially “clean” fission products from were also told by unidentified sources dur- The first is the AS-X-19 Koala, developed the irradiated fuel without separating pluto- ing their investigation that the HEU seized as a joint-service weapon capable of speeds nium from uranium. More than 40 years in Prague and Landshut was only a “por- up to Mach 5. The second is a proposed hy- ago, Russia started the development of tion” of a larger stock of HEU allegedly sto- personic missile with a maximum speed of LCFRs for submarine propulsion. Eight len from Mayak. During 1995, Czech police Mach 14. Raduga is also offering an upgrade submarines used this type of reactor, and seized a 0.4 gram sample of the same mate- for the Moskit that, according to Raduga although one was destroyed in a fire, the ac- rial in Prague, and also recovered 20 grams general designer Igor Seleznev, will improve cident demonstrated the effective isolation of it in the southern Czech city of Ceske combat efficiency by 1.7 times. Raduga’s of the radioactive core offered by solidified Budejovice. However, no more of the HEU proposed upgrade to the existing Moskit lead coolant. has turned up or been offered for sale in the missile would add extra fuel, extending the Nuclear News, September 1998, pp. 23-24. East last four years. Czech officials interviewed range by 50 km to a maximum of 200 km European Energy Report, August 1998, p. 35; in for the report expressed continuing concern NB98.37-17, UI News Briefing, [Online] http:// and giving the missile a maximum speed of www.uilondon.org/nb/nbindex.htm, 9-15 September about “this apparently missing HEU since a Mach 3. Raduga will also improve the war- 1998. ring of bandits was involved in stealing it head and likely make changes to the and at least one nuclear expert was involved missile’s seeker. Russia’s Progress plant at On 20 September 1998, Sergeant Vitaliy in trying to sell it.” Arsenyev, Primorskiy Kray, where the Mark Hibbs, NuclearFuel, 21 September 1998. Pryakhin, a member of Unit 3446, which Moskit is made, is scheduled to deliver the first batch of the Moskit-E missiles to China
160 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments in 2000 and the second in 2002. This order nuclear facilities are subject to International sian-supplied Bushehr Nuclear Power Sta- may be the only order keeping Russia’s Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, tion on 12 October 1998. The first phase will Progress production plant open. Due to cut- and hence estimated that only a few grams consist of the construction of two 1,000 MW backs in Russia’s military spending, of plutonium could be diverted for military light water reactors. Construction of Bushehr Progress has been forced to rely on exports. purposes without being detected by the will be supervised by Iran’s Atomic Energy It received permission on 31 December 1997 IAEA. Nevertheless, the Cesid report con- Agency, with Russian assistance. No to export spare parts and maintenance ser- cluded that, by the year 2000, Algeria could completion date for the project was given; vices for its products. The Moskit-E will be initiate a military nuclear program if its gov- however, Russia has promised Iranian offi- installed on two Sovremenny-class missile ernment made a political decision to do so. cials that it will finish the project “at the ear- destroyers that Russia is building for China. Algerian Foreign Ministry spokesman liest possible time.” This sale is the first export contract for Abdelaziz Sebaa characterized news ac- Tehran Times, 13 October 1998, pp. 1, 5; in FBIS- Moskit missiles since 1982, when they en- counts of the report as “malicious and sen- NES-98-295, 22 October 1998. tered service with the Russian Navy. sational” and said that Algeria’s nuclear Piotr Butowski, Jane’s Missiles & Rockets, Septem- program was dedicated to peaceful purposes. Missile ber 1998, pp. 11-12. Piotr Butowski, Jane’s De- M. Gonzalez and J.M. Larraya, El País, [Online] A CIA report released 21 July 1998 says that fence Industry Report, July 1998, p. 2. http://www.elpais.es, 23 August 1998. Washington China continued to sell missile technology, Post, 24 August 1998, p. 15. AFP, 24 August 1998. advanced conventional arms, and unconven- UKRAINE tional arms to Pakistan and Iran in 1997. The Missile Nuclear report contrasts with the Clinton Algeria has become the third country to im- administration’s assessment that China is Under the START I treaty, Ukraine is dis- port Russian X-35 subsonic anti-ship missiles “curbing dangerous weapons proliferation.” mantling its 46 SS-24 ballistic missiles, the for its navy. The navies of Vietnam and India The report’s findings point out that Russia, most modern strategic missiles of the So- have also bought the X-35 missile. X-35 is China, and North Korea supplied missile- viet era. Ten of the missiles had been de- Russia’s export designation for the Kh-35 related goods and technology to Iran. Ac- stroyed by the end of September 1998. [NATO designation SS-N-25 ‘Switchblade’]. cording to the report, Iran is “using these Ukraine plans to dismantle the remaining Russia will deliver the X-35 missiles to Alge- goods and technologies to achieve its goal SS-24 missiles by December 2001. The pro- ria as part of Uran compact missile systems. of becoming self-sufficient in the produc- gram is being implemented with financial Russia will also supply the Algerian navy with tion of medium-range missiles.” China has aid from the United States, while Germany onshore equipment to service the X-35 mis- also provided Iran with chemical warfare is providing financing for some missile silo siles. The Zvezda-Strela State Scientific Pro- material to supplement its stockpiles includ- destruction. duction Center in Korolev, Moscow Oblast, UNIAN, 1 October 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, [Online] ing bombs and artillery shells. http://web.lexis-nexis.comuniverse. STB TV, 17 which has bordered on bankruptcy the past Bill Gertz, Washington Times, 22 July 1998, p. 1. August 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, [Online] http:// few years, designed the X-35 missiles. web.lexis-nexis.comuniverse. The Ukrainian Nikolay Novichkov, ITAR-TASS, 22 July 1998; in A senior Iranian official said that, on 22 Weekly, 13 September 1998. UNIAN, 22 Septem- FBIS-SOV-98-203, 22 July 1998. “SS-N-25/AS- ber 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, [Online] http://web.lexis- 20 ‘Kayak’/SSC-6 (Kh-35 Uran/3K-60 Bal),” Jane’s July 1998, Iran successfully test-fired the nexis.com/universe. Strategic Weapon Systems, Issue 25, 1998. Shahab-3, a medium-range ballistic mis- sile. The official said that the Shahab-3 IRAN has an estimated range of 800 miles and is capable of striking Israel and Saudi MIDDLE EAST AND Nuclear Arabia. US intelligence analysts reported In protest of Iran’s nuclear program, the US AFRICA that the Shahab-3 is based on North Ko- House of Representatives voted to cut US rean technology. The analysts also said funding for the International Atomic Energy that the Iranians have to purchase missile Agency (IAEA) by an amount equal to the technology from Russia, China, and North assistance the IAEA is providing Iran for the Korea because Iran does not have the abil- ALGERIA construction of its Bushehr nuclear power ity to produce missiles indigenously. Nuclear plant. The United States believes that the Tim Weiner, New York Times, [Online] http:// Bushehr project could help Iran’s nuclear www.nytimes.com, 23 July 1998. According to a confidential July 1998 re- weapons program. port by the Cesid, Spain’s intelligence BBC News, [Online] http://news.bbc.co.uk, 4 Au- Both US and Israeli officials agreed that agency, Algeria is proceeding with a nuclear gust 1998. program that exceeds the civilian needs of Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missile test con- the country, and within two years will be ducted on 22 July 1998 was unsuccessful. The Iranian government approved a $140 US officials said that the missile failed to capable of producing military-grade pluto- million budget for the first phase of the Rus- nium. The Cesid report noted that Algerian complete its flight path and fell short of its
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 161 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments target. Pentagon officials reported that the information to validate the Israeli claims, could hinder development of the 2,000- test was conducted approximately 100 miles but noted that the five firms do appear on km-range Shahab-4 missile. south of Tehran. The White House “criti- a State Department list of 21 firms sus- Arieh O’Sullivan, Jerusalem Post, [Online] http:// cized” North Korea for selling missile tech- pected of providing ballistic missile as- www.jpost.com, 9 September 1998. nology to Iran. US experts identified the sistance to Iran. Shahab-3 as a variant of North Korea’s Jewish Telegraphic Agency, [Online] http:// IRAQ Nodong missile. www.jta.org, 2 August 1998. Barbara Opall-Rome, Nuclear Defense News, 3-9 August 1998, p. 10. CNN, [Online] http://www.cnn.com, 23 July 1998. In a report to the UN Security Council on 27 July 1998, the International Atomic En- Iranian General Mohammad Bagher According to Israeli analyst Ze’ev Schiff, ergy Agency (IAEA) said it found no evi- Qalibaf, head of the Islamic Revolution- a re-examination of the technical data on dence of an Iraqi nuclear program. However, ary Guards Corps’ air wing, provided de- Iran’s 22 July 1998 Shahab-3 ballistic the IAEA says that since Iraq has failed to tails about the Shahab-3 medium-range missile test has led US and other officials account for key nuclear equipment and tech- ballistic missile tested on 22 July 1998. to conclude that the test launch was a suc- nology, the possibility still exists that Iraq The missile is 53 feet (16 meters) in length cess despite the missile’s explosion dur- may have “hidden the necessary expertise and can travel at an estimated speed of ing flight. Schiff believes that the and material for future use.” The report 4,300 mph. The Shahab-3 is capable of successful test of the missile’s first stage stated that “effective, ongoing monitoring carrying a 2,000 lb warhead to an altitude means that Iran will soon have ballistic and verification in Iraq...must be compre- of 155 miles above sea level. In addition, missiles capable of striking Israel and hensive and rigorous and, as a result, is in- Qalibaf said that “the final test of every other Middle Eastern countries. Schiff trusive.” also says that Iran is likely to conduct fur- weapon is in a real war situation but, given Barbara Crossette and Judith Miller, New York ther missile tests, and that Israel should its warhead and size, the Shahab-3 is a Times, [Online] http://www.nytimes.com, 28 July 1998. be particularly concerned about the type very accurate weapon.” He added that Ira- of warhead developed for the Shahab-3. nian engineers developed the missile’s Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), 29 July 1998, p. B1; in FBIS- guidance system. Iranian President Iraqi scientist Khidhir Abdul Abas TAC-98-216, 4 August 1998. Mohammad Khatami said on 1 August Hamza, who defected to the United States 1998 that Iran would continue to in 1994, publicly described the inner On 1 August 1998, Israeli Defense Min- strengthen its armed forces “regardless of working of Iraq’s nuclear program. ister Yitzhak Mordechai warned that international concern.” Hamza said Iraqi President Saddam Iran’s programs to develop long-range CNN, [Online] http://www.cnn.com, 2 August 1998. Hussein personally supervised the nuclear missiles and weapons of mass destruction weapons program since its inception in pose a long-term threat to Israel, and that An Asian diplomat reported on 4 August 1971. He said that Iraq had completed all the country is “obliged to do everything 1998 that Iran would obtain technology the research and development necessary possible to minimize the damage and the to manufacture a multipurpose satellite for an atomic bomb and was nearly fin- potential capabilities of Iran.” Israeli of- under a cooperative agreement with five ished with construction of a bomb using ficials have repeatedly charged that the Asian countries. Representatives from uranium from civilian reactors [sic: prob- Shahab-3 has been developed with Rus- China, Mongolia, Pakistan, South Korea, ably means plutonium]. Allied bombing sian assistance, and will be operational and Thailand met on 3 August 1998 in during the 1990-91 Gulf War halted Iraq’s within a year unless Russian aid is Tehran to discuss “technical and financial efforts. However, Iraq could have pro- stopped. Israeli officials are urging Rus- terms for the satellite project.” The satel- duced a bomb “in several months,” Hamza sia and the United States to take punitive lite would cost an estimated $20 million said. action against five Russian firms identi- and is intended to be launched in 2001. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 August 1998. fied by the Israeli government as provid- Eric Kulisch, Defense News, 10-16 August 1998. ing assistance to Iran’s missile programs. Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, director of According to the list presented to Russian A senior Israeli intelligence officer told India’s Institute for Defense Studies and officials by Knesset member Ephraim Knesset members on 8 September 1998 Analyses, told French journalists on 30 Au- Sneh on 27 July 1998, the Russian Space that even if Russian missile assistance to gust 1998 that India had repeatedly turned Agency, Rosvoorouzhenie, the Bauman the country is ended, Iran would still be down requests from Iraq and Libya for the State University of Technology, Central able to complete development of its purchase of Indian nuclear weapons tech- Aerohydrodynamic Institute, and the 1,300-km-range Shahab-3 ballistic mis- nology. Singh said that Iraq had made “ur- Kuznetsov Design Bureau are providing sile. According to the officer, a halt in gent requests” over the years to get nuclear assistance to Iran’s missile programs. The Russian aid to Iran’s ballistic missile pro- technology, for which they were willing to US State Department said that it had no grams would not be enough to stop the pay a high price in hard currency. He said development of the Shahab-3, although it that India denied the requests, not out of in-
162 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments ternational obligation, “but because we think policymakers did not regard the testimony On 17 August 1998, the UN Security Coun- that this [selling nuclear weapons technol- as credible as they “had never received such cil prepared a “low-keyed” response to Iraq’s ogy] is the wrong thing to do.” a report.” However, evidence emerging the refusal to cooperate with UN inspectors. The The Nation (Lahore), [Online] http:// week of 28 September 1998 to 2 October response made no threats of military action www.nation.com.pk, 31 August 1998. 1998 shows that Ritter had spoken with against Iraq if it continued to defy inspec- During a meeting at the Washington Insti- members of the CIA in 1996 and passed the tors. An unnamed representative of one of tute for Near East Policy, former UN Spe- information on in writing to an interagency the five permanent Security Council mem- cial Commission in Iraq (UNSCOM) weapons inspectors group in May 1997. bers said, “what is the alternative? We have weapons inspector Scott Ritter revealed sev- Ritter said three Iraqi defectors gave him the no volunteers for military action. Not a eral UNSCOM discoveries related to Iraq’s information. single one.” Diplomats said that the Secu- Barton Gellman, Washington Post, [Online] http:// rity Council met on 13 August 1998 to con- weapons of mass destruction program. Ac- www.washingtonpost.com, 30 September 1998. cording to Ritter, Iraq is hiding three nuclear sider the standoff. The United States and Britain called for an “immediate and firm bombs, which are technically complete, but Missile lack fissionable material. Ritter said that the reply” unlike Russia, which called for a “de- Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on 5 Au- inspection team knew where the bombs were lay.” gust 1998 ended all cooperation with UN Paul Lewis, New York Times, [Online] http:// hidden, but no order was ever given to con- weapons inspectors. An Iraqi government www.nytimes.com, 17 August 1998. duct a surprise inspection of the site. Ritter statement said that there would be no fur- said that the team also had information on ther cooperation with the UN Special Com- The UN Security Council unanimously the method used to conceal weapons, the mission, or the IAEA until the following voted on 20 August 1998 to renew economic transportation system used to move them, demands were met: sanctions against Iraq. Danilo Turk, and the personnel guarding them. He said (1) The transfer of UNSCOM from New Slovenia’s representative and August’s that the UN Security Council and the Clin- York to either Vienna or Geneva. This trans- council president, said that “the council had ton administration had blocked the way of fer would “keep UNSCOM away from US found Iraq’s behavior totally unacceptable the inspectors just as they were to uncover influence.” and that Iraq had not met conditions for al- Iraq’s nuclear capabilities. UNSCOM in- (2) The dissolution of the current UNSCOM tering the sanctions.” The United States spectors claim that Iraq has retained between leadership and its reestablishment with equal would reportedly like Secretary General five and 12 Al Hussein ballistic missiles and representation from each of the five perma- Kofi Annan to become more involved in the parts for another 25 missiles. Iraq still re- nent Security Council members. current impasse, because Iraq’s decision to fuses to give details about its missile pro- (3) The rotation of the UNSCOM chairman- discontinue cooperation with arms inspec- gram to inspectors. ship among the permanent members of the tors breaks the agreement he negotiated with Ze’ev Schiff, Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), [Online] http:// www3.haaretz.co.il, 9 September 1998. Christopher Security Council. Iraq in February 1998. However, Annan’s Walker, The Times (London), [Online] http:// (4) Iraq’s appointment as an “observer” on representatives said he fears that more in- www.the-times.co.uk, 10 September 1998. the commission. volvement would compromise his indepen- (5) Recognition that Iraq has complied with dence by making him seem “an instrument Karl-Heinz Schaab, a German engineer, all Security Council resolutions. of US foreign policy.” Instead, Annan rec- turned himself in to German police on 24 Washington Times, [Online] http:// ommended that the council hold a “compre- September 1998, upon his return to Ger- www.washtimes.com, 6 August 1998. hensive review” of the sanctions it has many. He was under an international ar- imposed on Iraq. rest warrant for allegedly selling UN officials reported on 12 August 1998 Paul Lewis, New York Times, [Online] http:// centrifuge designs for uranium enrich- that Iraq was preventing all UN weapons www.nytimes.com, 21 August 1998. ment to Iraq for $1.1 million. inspections. Iraq announced that UN in- AFP, 24 September 1998; in FBIS-WEU-98-267, spectors would not be allowed to act on Iraqi UN Ambassador Nizar Hamdoon 24 September 1998. Washington Post, 26 Septem- any violation that they discover. In state- asked the UN Security Council for an in- ber 1998, p. A16. ments to the UN Security Council, vestigation into alleged links between UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard UNSCOM inspectors and the United States US officials said on 29 September 1998 that Butler and IAEA Director General and Israel. He told reporters that the work former UNSCOM arms inspector Scott Mohammed el-Baradei said that “Iraq’s of UNSCOM was heavily influenced by the Ritter twice reported that he had credible in- refusal to cooperate with active inspec- US agenda. Hamdoon’s request follows al- telligence that Iraq built “three or four im- tions was already weakening what they legations brought by American UN weap- plosion devices.” These devices, according called ongoing monitoring and verifica- ons inspector Scott Ritter’s letter of to Ritter, lacked only the uranium cores to tion.” resignation, which accused the United States create 20 kt nuclear weapons. Ritter testi- Barbara Crossette, New York Times, [Online] http:/ and United Nations of failing to deal firmly fied before Senate and House committees /www.nytimes.com, 13 August 1998. with Iraq. According to Iraqi Deputy Prime on 5 September and 15 September 1998. US
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 163 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
Minister Tariq Aziz, Hamdoon’s letter ac- hearings on Israel’s nuclear policy. country of the 61-member CD that had not cused UNSCOM of being “a tool of the Steve Rodan, Defense News, 29 June-5 July 1998, consented to negotiations. However, Prime United States to spy against Iraq.” It also p. 3. Barbara Opal-Rome, Defense News, 14-20 Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Is- September 1998, p. 6. Amnon Barzilai, Ha’aretz named Ritter as a spy for the United States (Tel Aviv), [Online] http://www.haaretz.co.il/eng, rael still has “fundamental problems” with and Israel and claimed that he resigned be- 25 August 1998. an FMCT and that Israeli support for the cause he was linked with Israeli and US in- committee “does not indicate we are taking telligence agencies. In July 1998, the London-based newsletter a position on the treaty and its contents.” CNN, [Online] http://www.cnn.com, 1 September Foreign Report said the Israeli Defense Ha’aretz reported that Israel demanded that 1998. Ministry was pressing government officials the United States provide firm assurance that to authorize a policy to allow Israel to re- international inspectors would not monitor An unidentified US arms inspector working taliate with nuclear weapons, in the event Israel’s nuclear facilities as part of an FMCT. for UNSCOM was sent home on 8 October that it suffers a nuclear first-strike attack. Liat Collins, Jerusalem Post, [Online] http:// 1998 for “using a private camera in viola- Foreign Report stated that Israel could de- www.jpost.co.il, 12 August 1998. Israel Government tion of UNSCOM rules at an inspection site.” velop a sea-based, assured second-strike ca- Press Office, [Online] http://www.pmo.gov.il/ english/gpo/press-releases/110898/110898-2.html, In a similar incident on 21 October 1998, pability using three Dolphin-class 11 August 1998. Akiva Eldar, Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), Iraqi General Hussam Mohammad Amin diesel-electric submarines that Germany re- [Online] http://www3.haaretz.co.il, 7 August 1998. accused a Chilean UNSCOM helicopter cently provided to Israel. The submarines, David Makovsky, Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), [Online] crewman of using his own camera to take which are to be deployed in 1999, could http://www3.haaretz.co.il, 9 August 1998. photos of “sensitive equipment.” Amin said, provide the basis for a submarine-launched “some inspectors use their function in the nuclear cruise missile force. In a 1998 public survey by the National Se- Special Commission to serve some intelli- Douglas Davis, Jerusalem Post, 6 August 1998, p. curity and Public Opinion Project of the gence services.” 3. Martin Sieff, Washington Times, 1 July 1998, p. Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 92 per- 1. Times of India, [Online] http://www.timesofindia.com, cent of Israelis surveyed agreed that Israel 23 October 1998. should develop nuclear weapons, an increase In a 13 July 1998 press conference in Jor- from 78 percent in 1987. Two-thirds of those According to a Sunday Times article, a UN dan, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon surveyed agreed that Israel should keep its Security Council report stated that Swiss and Peres publicly admitted for the first time nuclear weapons secret “if they existed,” a French tests on fragments of Iraqi missiles that Israel possessed nuclear weapon ca- decrease from 71 percent in 1993 and 78 per- found a “degradation agent” which could be pabilities. Peres stated that Israel “built a cent in 1987. Furthermore, 80 percent said VX, Sarin, or Soman. The US, Swiss, and nuclear option not in order to have a they would support Israel’s use of nuclear French tests all found traces of detergent Hiroshima but an Oslo.” weapons under certain conditions, a notable used to wash the missile fragments. Israel Wire, [Online] http://www.israelwire.com, increase from 36 percent in 1986. Of respon- July 14, 1998. James Bone, The Times (London), [Online] http:// dents who said they would support Israel’s www.Sunday-times.co.uk, 27 October 1998. use of nuclear weapons, 99 percent believe Youssef M. Ibrahim, New York Times, 27 October According to an affidavit filed with Israel’s 1998. that Israel would be justified in using nuclear High Court by Rafael Cohen, director of weapons in response to a nuclear attack, population administration at Israel’s Min- while 86 percent support their use in re- ISRAEL istry of the Interior, Israeli citizen Gregory sponse to a chemical or biological weapon Nuclear Luchansky “is involved in trading radioac- attack. Of respondents supporting the use of tive materials” and his firm is providing “the In June 1998, Israeli government sources and nuclear weapons by Israel, forty-five per- wherewithal to build nuclear missiles for parliamentarians revealed that Israel was for- cent said their use would be justified to avoid North Korea and Iran.” Cohen’s affidavit mally reviewing its policy of nuclear ambi- defeat in a conventional war, 21 percent said was filed in response to a petition by guity, with several agencies—including the their use would be justified if the Golan Luchansky against Israeli Interior Minister defense and foreign ministries and the of- Heights were taken from Israel, and 12 per- Eli Suissa, who refused to extend fice of Prime Minister Benjamin cent supported the use of nuclear weapons Luchansky’s passport and attempted to re- Netanyahu—participating in the review. in the place of Israel’s conventional forces. voke his citizenship. David Ivry, former commander of the Israeli Asher Arian, Strategic Assessment, [Online] http:// Shmuel Dekalo, Globes (Tel Aviv), [Online] http:// www.tau.ac.il/~jcssjb/vinep3.html, October 1998. Air Force and director general of the Minis- www.globes.co.il, 6 August 1998. try of Defense, is heading the review, which Missile will include an analysis of political, opera- On 11 August 1998, Israel agreed to allow Israel is developing a variant of Rafael’s tional, and budgetary issues associated with the United Nations Conference on Disarma- Popeye air-to-ground cruise missile called Israel’s nuclear deterrent strategy. The De- ment (CD) in Geneva to form a negotiating the Popeye Turbo. The missile will have a fense and Foreign Affairs Committee of the committee for a fissile material cut-off treaty range of more than 200 miles and is expected Knesset also plans to hold a series of closed (FMCT). Israel had previously been the only
164 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments to be operational by the year 2002. It will be [Online] http://www.jpost.com, 15 September 1998. rested eight suspects: three Kazakhs, one air-launched and will reportedly be armed Dror Marom, Globes (Tel Aviv), [Online] http:// Azerbaijani, and four Turks. The Istanbul www.globes.co.il, 17 September 1998. with a unitary conventional warhead. Finance and Customs Department declared Robert Wall, Aviation Week and Space Technology, that the uranium originated in Russia. The 27 July 1998, pp. 24-25. Brian Bender, Jane’s De- SOUTH AFRICA nuclear material was delivered to the Nuclear fence Weekly, 22 July 1998, pp. 20-22. Nuclear Research and Training Center of the On 14 September 1998, Israel conducted a South Africa’s Atomic Energy Corporation Kucukcekmece Turkish Atomic Energy In- test of the US-Israeli Arrow anti-missile sys- (AEC) announced that it is seeking bids for stitute in Istanbul, which will assess its pre- tem at the Israel Air Force test range at purchase of its “redundant nuclear fuel fab- cise origin. This is the first known case in Palmachim. During the test, the Arrow sys- rication equipment,” including that used in which weapons-usable nuclear material has tem was used to detect, track, and destroy a manufacturing fuel pellets and fuel assem- been seized by Turkish authorities. blies for pressurized water reactors. In mid- Anatolia (Ankara), 7 September 1998; in FBIS-TAC- simulated target. Israeli and US officials wit- 98-250, 7 September 1998. Post Soviet Nuclear & nessed the test, which was the first to in- 1999, South Africa’s conversion facilities Defense Monitor, 16 September 1998, p. 6. volve the Arrow’s missile, radar, and fire will close, and some equipment from the gas- control systems in the same exercise. Iran’s to-powder conversion facility may also be Missile sold. The AEC stated that equipment would 22 July 1998 test launch of its 1,300-km- In response to Cyprus’s purchase of Rus- be sold only to nations that are signatories range Shahab-3 ballistic missile is believed sian S-300PMU-1 surface-to-air missiles, to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to have been a major impetus driving the Turkey sought to expedite delivery of 72 (NPT), and that any sales would be subject decision to test the system. In the Arrow test, Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to South African export controls. Elta’s Green Pine fire-control radar detected that it ordered from the United States in the simulated launch of the enemy target, Atomic Energy Corporation, [Online] http:// www.aec.co.za, 17 August 1998. 1996. Turkish defense officials said in July tracked its flight, and relayed the data to 1998 that Turkish armed forces had recently Tadiran’s Citron Tree intercept management received 42 of the 150-km-range ballistic YRIA system. The Citron Tree system then or- S missiles. The ATACMS are to be deployed dered the Arrow launcher to fire a missile Nuclear near border areas to meet threats from to intercept the target. The Arrow missile According to the Press Service of Russia’s Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. warhead was activated and it intercepted the Atomic Energy Ministry, Russia and Syria Metehan Demir, Hurriyet (Ankara), 1 July 1998, p. simulated target 97 seconds after launch. are expected to sign an intergovernmental 3; in FBIS-WEU-98-182, 1 July 1998. Mordechai described the test as “a great suc- accord on cooperation in the peaceful uses cess” and said, “we are supposed to be car- of nuclear energy. Joint projects to be rying out another test shortly...The next test launched after the agreement is signed in- will include the firing of a rocket and it shall clude the construction of a nuclear research SOUTH AMERICA be a missile hitting a missile. The Arrow center and nuclear reactors in Syria, as well missile will shoot down a real missile. Thus as the training of Syrian scientists at Rus- we will be able to say we have an opera- sian institutions. The nuclear research cen- tional system.” The plan is for the Arrow ter will house a 25 MW “basin-type” light BRAZIL system to become partially operational in water reactor. Syrian experts will train for Nuclear 1999, with the first of three batteries fully two years at the Moscow Physical Engineer- On 13 July 1998, Brazilian President operational in 2000. Executives with Israel ing Institute. Syria and Russia reached the Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed the in- Aircraft Industries (IAI), the prime contrac- agreement following negotiations from 27 struments of ratification for the Treaty on tor for the Arrow project, said that the suc- June-4 July 1998. The Russian company AO the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons cessful test proved their assertion that the Tekhsnabexport will act as the executive (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban failure of the August 1997 Arrow test was agent for the Ministry of Atomic Energy. Treaty (CTBT) in the presence of UN Sec- caused by a minor problem. The Arrow sys- ITAR-TASS (Moscow), 6 July 1998. Oleg Lebedev, retary General Kofi Annan. Cardoso called tem test of 14 September 1998 completed Ria (Moscow), 6 July 1998; in FBIS-SOV-98-188, upon the international community to outline IAI’s $500 million contracts for the project 7 July 1998. a program of complete nuclear disarmament. with the US Department of Defense. With The NPT was sent to the Brazilian Congress the terms of the contracts fulfilled, manage- URKEY T on 20 June 1997, and the CTBT was sent in ment of the Arrow program shifts exclu- Nuclear August 1997. Congress approved both trea- sively to IAI and the Israeli Ministry of Posing as potential buyers, Turkish police ties on 2 July 1998. Defense. Agencia Estado, 13 July 1998. James Rocha, Jornal Amnon Barzilai, Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), [Online] http:/ seized 4.5 kg of unprocessed uranium and 6 grams of plutonium from a group trying to do Brasil, 11 July 1998. Ministry of Foreign Rela- /www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/, 15 September 1998. tions, [Online] http://www.mre.gov.br, 13 July 1998. Steve Rodan and Arieh O’Sullivan, Jerusalem Post, sell the materials for $1 million. Police ar-
The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999 165 Nuclear and Missile Trade and Developments
According to Nuclear Industries of Brazil During an international conference on the nuclear safety authority STUK said they (INB) President Roberto Nogueira da safety of radiation sources and the security knew nothing of any such discovery. Interpol Franca, the agreement for INB’s purchase of radioactive material held in Dijon, France, officials also said that they were not aware of “thousands” of ultracentrifuges from the an anonymous senior official from the Eu- of any seizures of nuclear materials in Fin- Brazilian Navy should be complete by the ropean Commission (EC) told Nucleonics land. end of 1998. Renovations at the INB facil- Week that European customs and law en- Mark Hibbs, Nucleonics Week, 17 September 1998. ity in Resende should be complete by Sep- forcement officials have encountered sev- tember 1998, and the first cascade of the first eral cases involving very small quantities of module of uranium enrichment ultracentri- plutonium and highly enriched uranium fuges will be installed in the facility at the (HEU) since 1994, when the last cases in- end of 1999. INB also intends to install some volving the seizure of significant quantities equipment that it acquired through Brazil’s of these materials were reported in Germany agreement with West Germany to develop a and the Czech Republic. Officials from the jet-nozzle enrichment process. INB should International Atomic Energy Agency begin producing low-enriched uranium for (IAEA) and Interpol said they did not have use in Brazil’s nuclear power plants by the any information that would confirm this re- end of 1999. INB’s uranium enrichment port. All three organizations maintain data- project seeks to provide an installed capac- bases that track nuclear smuggling incidents. ity of 16,000 separative work units (SWU) According to information contained in the after four years and 100,000 SWU after eight nuclear trafficking database maintained by years. According to Franca, within ten years the Directorate General of the EC for Envi- INB expects to cease purchasing enriched ronment, Nuclear Safety, and Civil Protec- uranium from the European consortium tion (DG-11), since 1994, small quantities Urenco. of HEU and plutonium have turned up in Daniela Caride, Gazeta Mercantil (Sao Paulo), 18 Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, and August, 1998, p. A4; in FBIS-LAT-98-232, 20 Au- Italy. The unclassified nuclear trafficking gust 1998. Daniela Caride, Gazeta Mercantil (Sao Paulo), 17 August 1998, p. A9; FBIS-LAT-98-232, database maintained by the IAEA, by con- 20 August 1998. trast, records only one case involving either HEU or plutonium in Europe since 1994: the seizure of four Pu-239 sources at Koenigsbrueck in the eastern German state WORLD of Saxony in May 1996. One senior Ger- man official contacted by Nucleonics Week categorically denied that any HEU or pluto- nium had been seized in Germany since At the 12th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) 1994. The EC official insisted, however, that summit in Durban, South Africa, NAM while no quantities of plutonium or HEU heads of state called for an international con- larger than one gram have been found in ference on nuclear disarmament to be held Germany since 1994, several cases have re- in 1999. A NAM leaders’ statement said sulted in the seizure of smaller amounts of that conference participants would have to these materials. Other German officials also agree to a specific schedule “to prohibit the indicated that some cases involving small development, production, acquisition, test- amounts of plutonium and HEU have oc- ing, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of curred since 1994. An anonymous European use of nuclear weapons, and to provide for intelligence official told Nucleonics Week their destruction.” They called for a com- that he had seen German reports that speci- mittee to commence negotiations in 1998 on fied that “small amounts” of weapons-us- a “phased elimination program” for nuclear able material had been recovered on German weapons, and urged the nuclear weapon soil, and that two cases involving materials states to begin and conclude negotiations on found in or near the cities of Dresden and legally-binding security assurances to all Bremen were under investigation. The EC non-nuclear weapon states. official indicated that weapons-quality SAPA, [Online] http://www.anc.org.za/, 3 Septem- nuclear material had also been seized in Fin- ber 1998. land. However, officials from the Finnish
166 The Nonproliferation Review/Winter 1999