F2E010@BARILVM.BITNET (Don Goldenfarb) (06/05/90)
From: Don Goldenfarb <F2E010@BARILVM.BITNET>
>From Yediot Acharonot...May 10, 1990
North Korea to Sell Syria Missiles With 600 Kilometer Range
- the missiles, improved Scud-B type, will be able to hit any target
within Israel
by Ron Ben-Yishai
Syria is expected to recieve surface to surface missiles from North
Korea, that will allow it to hit any target within Israel. According
to western sources, these are an improved version of the Scud-B
missile that have a 600 kilometer range and a better precision
than the original Scud-B.
The North Korean missiles are able to carry both chemical and
conventional warheads of any weight. The Syrians turned to the
North Koreans after negotitiations with the USSR and China failed
to get them the upgraded surface to surface missiles they wanted.
the USSR refuses to sell upgraded surface to surface missiles of the
SM-23 type that have a 500 kilometer range. The Chinese M-9 missile
is still in the early stages of testing and production and will not
be ready for operations until 1992. Another reason for the failure
of the negotiations between Damascus and Bejing was American pressure
on China not to sell long range missiles to any Middle Eastern country.
The North Korean version of the Scud-B gives the Syrians many
advantages. Not only does it enable them to cover any target they
would want to attack in Israel, but it is also cheaper and more
reliable than the USSR and Chinese missiles. The Syrains have much
experience with the Scud-B as the USSR version has already been in the
possesion of the Syrian Army for a number of years.
According to the report of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies in
Tel-Aviv, Syria has about 60 short range missiles. An addition of a
few dozen of the North Korean missiles, will improve the quantity and
the quality of Syria's long range option in its ability to attack
Israel.
North Korea has one of the most advanced military industries of a
third world country. It produces, with license from the USSR, Soviet
armament systems, and has introduced improvements in some of them.
The Scud-B is also originally a Soviet planned and produced missile.
The original range of the missile was about 280 kilometers and it could
carry a one ton warhead.