A missile assembly complex is coming up at Tatkon, north-west of the capital Naykyitaw, while Kyaukse is home to Air Defence Radar Complex. Both these military establishments are located in Mandalay Division.
Myanmar has been getting shipments of missile equipment from North Korea for a while.
For instance, on Jan 31, a heavy consignment was brought to Yangon port by North Korean vessel – ‘Yang.M.V. Han A’. The cargo- 32 cases of M-11 missile components and their accessories- was unloaded at a mid sea naval jetty from where it was ferried to ‘Indaing Arms Assembly Unit’ in Irrawaddy Division. Like now, then also, the return cargo was rice and sugar
The nature of return cargo makes one thing clear. It is that cash strapped Myanmar junta and food shortages hit North Korea are trying to overcome their problems rather ingeniously.
Both countries have been trading in defence equipment despite UN ban on North Korea (Security Council Resolution 1874) from exporting all types of weapons.
The US has upped the ante. On May 10, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Kurt Campbell asked Myanmar military regime to stop buying North Korean military technologies or components. He warned that Washington might take independent action for the enforcement of the UN sanctions if it continues to flout the ban on N Korean missle sales.
Officials from Namclongang Trading (NCG), a North Korean trading Company were found in Myanmar recently. The company had attracted UN sanctions for assisting Syria in building a nuclear facility.
Last year, one North Korean and 2 Japanese were arrested in Japan for attempting to illegally export dual use equipment, which are banned, to Myanmar.
The US officials also expressed concern about Chinese and Pakistani activities in Myanmar. A four-member Pakistani nuclear delegation led by Dr Saifullah visited Yangon and discussed about a six-month long training programme to selected Myanmar nuclear scientists. The visit took place last January at the invitation of Myanmar Ministry of Defence.
