Friday 4 April 2008

S'pore to probe alleged N. Korea rocket exports to Myanmar

April 3, 2008 - SINGAPORE will investigate allegations that a local trading company was linked to North Korean exports of rockets to military-ruled Myanmar, the foreign affairs ministry said on Thursday.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, that Pyongyang has started exporting multiple-launch rockets to Myanmar after the two nations agreed to normalise ties last year.

It said 'full-scale' exports of the weapons had been handled by an unnamed Singapore trading company but gave no further details.

'We take such allegations very seriously and will certainly investigate,' a spokesman with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

'We are committed to fulfilling our international obligations to prevent the proliferation and illicit trafficking of arms and weapons of mass destruction.'

NHK said the weapons exports are in violation of economic sanctions imposed on North Korea after the communist state conducted a nuclear test in October 2006.

Multiple-launch rockets are 24cm in diameter and about one metre long, each with a range of about 65km, according to the report. --

Source: Straits Times

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