A world-class expert studying the strategic alliance between Iran and North Korea revealed that Iran’s vast missile system was built with the help of North Korea. These two countries have been engaging in close cooperation for many years, and the missile system poses a threat to the United States and its allies in the Middle East in the current Iran conflict.
According to reports from Fox News, Bruce Bechtol, a political science professor and one of the authors of the book “Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership Between Iran and North Korea”, stated in an interview with the media, “The missile launched towards Diego Garcia was a ‘Musudan’ missile. The Iranians purchased 19 of them from the North Koreans and they were delivered in 2005. Since 2005, they have had this military capability – it’s not a ‘secret weapon’.”
The event referred to by Bechtol is the missile strike on March 20, when Iran launched two medium-range ballistic missiles towards the Diego Garcia joint military base operated by the UK and the US in the Indian Ocean, approximately 2,500 miles away from Iran. Although the attack was unsuccessful, it indicated that Iran’s missiles have a range beyond previous international expectations, potentially reaching further US targets.
Bechtol emphasized to Fox News that the most significant threat Iran poses to the US and its allies in the escalating conflict is through ballistic missiles. He stated, “Therefore, considering this military capability and where Iran obtained it from is crucial.”
He continued, saying, “Iran has launched short-range ballistic missiles at key US infrastructure and neighboring Arab countries, including a key system – QIAM. QIAM was developed and improved with the assistance of North Korea… North Korea has provided a lot to Iran, which we are witnessing in this conflict.”
Bechtol, a political science professor at Angelo State University in Texas, highlighted information from the non-profit organization Wisconsin Project, dedicated to nuclear weapon control, indicating that North Korea has established a large missile test facility in Iran’s Fars Province and a tracking facility in South Khorasan Province.
He mentioned that North Korea has provided Iran with critical technology to enhance the range and lethality of the Iranian missiles, enabling them to target more distant objectives.
Bechtol also pointed out that North Korea has supplied Iran with other missile systems and technologies to improve missile range and destructive power, which are being utilized in this conflict to launch attacks against Israel and Arab neighboring countries.
Regarding the strategic partnership between North Korea and Iran, Bechtol noted, “North Korea is the seller, Iran is the buyer.” North Korea provides weapons systems, technology, components, technical personnel, engineers, experts, and military capabilities (such as constructing underground facilities) to Iran, while Iran pays in cash and oil.
Bechtol emphasized that the only way to stop this situation from escalating further is to impose sanctions on North Korea. He emphasized that the necessary sanction measures already exist, but the US and its key allies must enforce them rigorously.