Nigeria Says N. Korea Offers Missile Technology(Updated)

[scoone]

Wed January 28, 2004 03:39 PM ET
LAGOS (*******) - North Korea has offered to share missile technology with Nigeria and the two states are expected to sign a preliminary agreement soon, a Nigerian government spokesman said on Wednesday.

The United States said it would encourage Nigeria, a key oil supplier and ally, to reject any arms deals with the communist country, which is suspected of developing nuclear weapons.

A memorandum of understanding is being discussed between Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his North Korean counterpart, Yang Hyong-sop, who is on a five-day visit to the West African country.

"They have made a lot of offers including training of army personnel, defense cooperation and missile technology, but definitely nothing to do with nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction," said Onukaba Ojo, a spokesman for the Nigerian vice president.

Ojo said he had no details on the type of missiles on offer, but the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ranks North Korea as the world's largest exporter of ballistic missiles.

The United States labeled communist North Korea as part of an "axis of evil" with Iran and pre-war Iraq, and has intervened in recent North Korean missile deliveries to Yemen.

"Obviously, this issue of regional stability and military acquisition is something that we do care about, something that's a regular part of our dialogue with Nigeria," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

"We'd welcome a decision to turn down any such offers from North Korea. We want to stop North Korea's missile activities. And we've gone to many countries to try to encourage them not to buy."

http://www.*******.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4231934

[usa320]

What missiles? NK doesnt have any missiles.

:roll:

[Haiw]

... yer joking right?

[budanski]

What missiles? NK doesnt have any missiles.

:roll:

I believe the joke goes... What Dong? Nodong?

[scoone]

US Concerned Over Any Nigeria-N.Korea Missile Sale
Fri January 30, 2004 05:09 PM ET

By Saul Hudson
WASHINGTON (*******) - The United States said on Friday it was concerned about a proposed deal for North Korea to sell Nigeria ballistic missiles and U.S. officials hinted at the possibility of sanctions against the African nation.

A U.S. ally and key oil supplier, Nigeria announced this week it could soon sign an agreement with North Korea, which the United States considers the world's largest exporter of ballistic missiles.

"We expressed concerns about the possibility there might be a purchase of missiles from North Korea and that's an issue we will be discussing with them," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters, referring to talks with the Nigerian government.

U.S. officials doubted Nigeria, which faces no obvious military threat, would go ahead with a deal but said the government had so far failed to assure American diplomats it would reject the communist nation's offer.

They said the U.S. arsenal of tools to stop such deals include seizing arms in transit or imposing sanctions on nations buying from a country that President Bush has labeled part of an "axis of evil" with Iran and pre-war Iraq.

"We don't think the Nigerians are really going to do anything," said one State Department official, who asked not to be named. "But, as long as there is any gray, we will say publicly we strongly oppose any proliferation. And with any parties engaged in such proliferation we would look at using those legal means, including interdictions and sanctions."

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks showed how vulnerable the country was, Washington has sought to clamp down on the trade of missiles and weapons of mass destruction to prevent militant groups from acquiring such arms.

The United States has intervened in recent North Korean missile deliveries to Yemen.

Nigeria, which has bought arms from the United States, Britain and Russia, says its weapons are needed for security and peacekeeping. Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria sees itself as a regional superpower and currently has troops in war-torn Liberia.

The government of President Olusegun Obasanjo is a key Washington ally in Africa, and is the fifth-largest supplier of oil to the United States. But Nigeria has also been reaching out to Asia in an effort to attract investment and alliances.

Missile sales are a major source of revenue for cash-strapped North Korea, which is expected to resume talks soon with Washington and other nations on dismantling its suspected nuclear programs.

Nigerian officials ruled out any nuclear-related purchases.

http://www.*******.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4253385

[usa320]

I dont see a problem with Nigeria HAVING missiles, as long as they can keep them SECURE.

But what i dont like is who the money goes too.

[EvanL]

DOng! Where is my automobile? haha

[Red]

what i dont like is the fact that Nigeria wants to buy missles while Nigerians live on less than a dollar a day and are faced with rampant corruption and poverty.I say the US should invade Nigeria

[EvanL]

what i dont like is the fact that Nigeria wants to buy missles while Nigerians live on less than a dollar a day and are faced with rampant corruption and poverty.I say the US should invade Nigeria
Dont you think that the African countries should take more responsibility for the region? I mean i know most of then are 3rd world countries and have no abillity to do anything along those lines, but say South Africa?

[Red]

what i dont like is the fact that Nigeria wants to buy missles while Nigerians live on less than a dollar a day and are faced with rampant corruption and poverty.I say the US should invade Nigeria
Dont you think that the African countries should take more responsibility for the region? I mean i know most of then are 3rd world countries and have no abillity to do anything along those lines, but say South Africa?
nope to be quite frank i dont want another local superpower,let these stupid countries address the poverty situation first

[AFG]

DOng! Where is my automobile? haha

lol wut the hell were u doing watchin 16 candles? not that uh i wasnt also :oops: :lol:

[usa320]

Yeah, because the french and UN would love it if we invaded Nigeria...

I think work DOES need to be done in africa, but its on too large of a scale for just one nation to accomplish. Right now the US is giving MORE AID to AFRICA than ANYOTHER NATION. So i think its about time that Europe and Asia and some of the more built up african countries pitch in too.

See this is a situation of "your damned if you do, damned if you dont." If we do take action in africa, "were imperialist nazi bastards, searching for oil in 3rd world countries". If we dont "we are greedy pigs, wasting our money on ourselves.".

[Red]

Yeah, because the french and UN would love it if we invaded Nigeria...

I think work DOES need to be done in africa, but its on too large of a scale for just one nation to accomplish. Right now the US is giving MORE AID to AFRICA than ANYOTHER NATION. So i think its about time that Europe and Asia and some of the more built up african countries pitch in too.

See this is a situation of "your damned if you do, damned if you dont." If we do take action in africa, "were imperialist nazi bastards, searching for oil in 3rd world countries". If we dont "we are greedy pigs, wasting our money on ourselves.".
both apply

[Kilimunati]

....................................

[Shadowstorm]

Wow, I can't believe you open a six year old thread for that sarcastic comment.

[Kilimunati]

Goodness me!!!, I had no Idea. was searching information on North Korean Missiles when I stumbled on it. wasn't intentional at all.

[MN_Air]

Oh hey look at that, N. Korea trying to make friends with shyte countries. Does NK support the taliban? Because it seems like everything NK does they do to p!ss off the rest of the world!

[Flamming_Python]

What I don't like is the US blackmailing a nation that is trying to have a bilateral relationship with another nation; concerning something that the US has absolutely no business sticking its nose in.

Or what, should America have a monopoly of which country is allowed to trade with which other one?