Iran’s advanced missile systems have been significantly bolstered by its strategic alliance with North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive and dangerous regimes. According to experts, this partnership is central to Iran’s missile capabilities, which have become a major threat in its ongoing conflict with the United States and its allies.
North Korean Missile Assistance to Iran
Bruce Bechtol, a prominent expert on the Iran-North Korea alliance and co-author of Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership Between Iran and North Korea, shared crucial insights into this partnership.
Bechtol stated that Iran’s missile program is largely based on technology and weapons supplied by North Korea. One of the key elements of this cooperation is the transfer of advanced missile systems from Pyongyang to Tehran.
In 2005, Iran acquired 19 Musudan missiles from North Korea, which have been part of Iran’s missile arsenal since then. These missiles have been used in various military engagements, including recent launches toward Diego Garcia, a U.S. military base. Bechtol emphasized that these systems are not “secret weapons” but a significant part of Iran’s military capabilities.
Missile Systems and Their Impact
Iran’s missile program has evolved over time, aided by North Korean expertise. Bechtol pointed out that one of the critical missile systems used by Iran is the QIAM, a short-range ballistic missile developed with North Korean assistance. This missile has been used by Iran in attacks on U.S. facilities and neighboring Arab countries.
The larger and more advanced missiles, such as the Shahab-3, Emad, and Ghadr, also have North Korean origins. The Shahab-3, which was developed with North Korean help in the late 1990s, is a variant of North Korea’s No Dong missile.
Iran later expanded its missile capabilities with the Emad (range: 1,750 km) and the Ghadr (range: 1,950 km). These missiles have been used to target not just Israel but U.S. military bases in the region and other Arab nations.
The Khorramshahr-4 and Growing Threats
The Khorramshahr-4, a more advanced missile, is considered one of the most lethal in Iran’s arsenal. Capable of carrying a warhead heavier than any other in Iran’s missile inventory, the Khorramshahr-4 is suspected to be armed with cluster munitions, making it a significant threat.
Bechtol stressed that this missile, along with others, has heightened the potential for destruction in the region, particularly with regard to Iran’s targeting of U.S. and Israeli interests.
The Strategic Partnership: North Korea as Supplier, Iran as Buyer
The relationship between Iran and North Korea is simple yet dangerous. North Korea, known for proliferating weapons of mass destruction, provides Iran with missile systems, technology, parts, and expertise.
In return, Iran pays North Korea with cash and oil, creating a mutually beneficial but highly destabilizing partnership. This cooperation allows both regimes to expand their military capabilities while bypassing international sanctions.
Need for Robust Sanctions Enforcement
Bechtol emphasized that to curb the proliferation of missile technology and prevent further collaboration between Iran and North Korea, robust sanctions enforcement is necessary.
Although sanctions against North Korea are already in place, they are not being effectively enforced. Bechtol called for more action to target North Korean banks, front companies, and cyber entities that facilitate the transfer of weapons and technology.
Additionally, Bechtol urged greater use of the Proliferation Security Initiative, an underutilized strategy to prevent North Korean arms from reaching rogue nations and terrorist groups. By cutting off the supply chain, the international community can effectively halt the flow of dangerous weapons.
