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NK penchant for super-security would dictate
multiple, independent cells for just about everything so that one hand does not
know what the other is doing - Kim Il Sung's guerrilla war background shows
here. In the case of missiles, several independent missile production and
special artillery commands operate in self sufficiency (and competition) so that
if one gets knocked out, the others would not be affected.
BTW, an Israeli intelligence web (http://www.debka.com/) has reported of a
'mysterious' explosion at a Syrian missile depot that killed several NK
advisors. Debka claims that the depot was attacked by an American and/or
Israeli commando unit. Any confirmation of this alleged destruction of NK
missiles in Syria?
ysk
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 4:14
PM
Subject: Re: Missile
Mike,
At the unclassified level
there is considerable confusion regarding the naming of the DPRK’s ballistic
missiles. Defectors have provided considerably different accounts of the
DPRK’s naming conventions. I have been told that the Hwasong [Mars] 5 = Scud B
and the Hwasong 6 = Scud C. I have also read what Ms. Kim has stated
previously (e.g., Hwasong 1 = Scud B .... Hwasong 6 = Taepodong) which is
recounted in the article you posted. This is further confused by other
defectors who state that the Hwasong 7 = SA-7, and that the DPRK’s ballistic
missiles include the Hwasong 1 and 2 as well as the Moksong [Jupiter] 1 and 2.
Still another defector identifies the Hwasong 1, 2, and 3 as surface-to-air,
surface-to-surface, and air-to-surface missiles respectively. Finally, last
year the DPRK officially stated that the missile that launched their first
satellite - Kwangmyongsong 1 [Bright Lodestar] - in August 1998 was the
Paektu-san 1 [a famous mountain on the DPRK-PRC border] while the US/West
calls it the Taepodong, Taepodong 1, or Taepodong 1 SLV.
I think
that we’ll simply have to wait until there is more information, of a reliable
nature, before we can really nail up the names. Look how long it took Steve
Zaloga to work out the naming and designation details for the Soviet missile
programs. BTW his latest book The Kremlin’s Nuclear Sword is great.
DISCLAIMER: Steve and I have been friends since our high school days.
We are also co-authors – with Cookie – of a forthcoming history of the Scud.
:-)
Regards,
Joe
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