ID :
53352
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 17:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53352
The shortlink copeid
Rocket launch likely to cost N. Korea US$500 million: think tank
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea may have spent nearly US$500 million to
build the long-range rocket it plans to launch within days, the head of a
Seoul-based think tank said Wednesday, citing leader Kim Jong-il's remarks on a
previous launch.
Nam Sung-wook based his estimate on remarks made by Kim said during his summit
with then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in 2000. Nam is a former advisor to
incumbent South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and director of the Institute for
National Security Strategy, an arm of the National Intelligence Service.
At that time, the North Korean leader said that Pyongyang had spent between $200
million and $300 million to launch what it called the "Kwangmyongsong-1"
satellite in 1998, according to Nam. Kim's remarks were informally conveyed by
other Seoul officials.
"He himself had told that to Seoul officials, and we have reached the assumption
that it has now cost up to 500 million dollars, considering that equipment costs
must have risen," Nam said in a meeting with reporters.
The estimate is the first straightforward calculation from a senior expert in
Seoul. Nam helped Lee build his North Korea policy during his election campaign
in 2007.
North Korea has said it will send its Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite into orbit some
time between April 4 and 8 as part of its peaceful space development program.
Neighboring countries believe the satellite launch might be a cover for testing
its long-range missile technology.
North Korea has never successfully flown a long-range rocket. The U.S. government
called the North's Kwangmyongsong 1 satellite a "failed" launch, and a
Taepodong-2 long-range missile the North fired in 2006 fell into the East Sea
about 40 seconds after blastoff.
A North Korean defector now working with Nam's institute said the imminent rocket
launch has dual purposes for North Korea -- testing its missile technology and
operating its own satellite.
"North Korea has been preparing and developing technology for a satellite launch
since the 1980s," the defector and former electronic expert said in the meeting,
requesting anonymity.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea may have spent nearly US$500 million to
build the long-range rocket it plans to launch within days, the head of a
Seoul-based think tank said Wednesday, citing leader Kim Jong-il's remarks on a
previous launch.
Nam Sung-wook based his estimate on remarks made by Kim said during his summit
with then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in 2000. Nam is a former advisor to
incumbent South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and director of the Institute for
National Security Strategy, an arm of the National Intelligence Service.
At that time, the North Korean leader said that Pyongyang had spent between $200
million and $300 million to launch what it called the "Kwangmyongsong-1"
satellite in 1998, according to Nam. Kim's remarks were informally conveyed by
other Seoul officials.
"He himself had told that to Seoul officials, and we have reached the assumption
that it has now cost up to 500 million dollars, considering that equipment costs
must have risen," Nam said in a meeting with reporters.
The estimate is the first straightforward calculation from a senior expert in
Seoul. Nam helped Lee build his North Korea policy during his election campaign
in 2007.
North Korea has said it will send its Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite into orbit some
time between April 4 and 8 as part of its peaceful space development program.
Neighboring countries believe the satellite launch might be a cover for testing
its long-range missile technology.
North Korea has never successfully flown a long-range rocket. The U.S. government
called the North's Kwangmyongsong 1 satellite a "failed" launch, and a
Taepodong-2 long-range missile the North fired in 2006 fell into the East Sea
about 40 seconds after blastoff.
A North Korean defector now working with Nam's institute said the imminent rocket
launch has dual purposes for North Korea -- testing its missile technology and
operating its own satellite.
"North Korea has been preparing and developing technology for a satellite launch
since the 1980s," the defector and former electronic expert said in the meeting,
requesting anonymity.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
