NBC: North Korea’s new missile technology may have Soviet roots
When North Korea launched a series of increasingly potent missiles last year, analysts were left scratching their heads. How had the renegade regime's weapons program advanced so quickly?
The answer may lie more than 4,000 miles away, in eastern Ukraine, according to one nuclear expert.
Michael Elleman is convinced that North Korea’s recent missiles were powered by engines made at a once-buzzing factory in the former Soviet Union.
Elleman, a senior fellow for missile defense at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank, believes that Pyongyang acquired the 1960s Soviet-era missile engine known as the RD-250 within the past two years.
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WNU Editor: A Soviet tie-in to North Korea's missile program has been making the rounds since last year .... How Did North Korea's Missiles Improved So Quickly? (September 8, 2017). And my commentary at the time still holds ....
.... After multiple failures (for years) to multiple successes (in one year) .... something is not right. As to who may have helped them .... the consensus is growing among U.S. experts is that there is a Ukraine connection .... Report: Ukraine Sold Rocket Engines For North Korea's Missiles (August 14, 2017). As to what is my take .... a number of countries have helped North Korea over the years .... it could be them (China, Russia, Iran, etc.) .... or it could be someone else (including Ukraine). Bottom line .... no one is 100% sure.