Singapore probes alleged link to N. Korean launcher sale to Myanmar

SINGAPORE, April 3 Kyodo

Singapore's Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will probe whether Singapore-based trading company has facilitated the export of rocket launchers from North Korea to Myanmar in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution, as alleged in a Japanese news report.

''We take such allegations very seriously and will certainly investigate,'' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry was responding to a news report Wednesday by Japan's public broadcaster NHK in which diplomatic sources were quoted as saying a Singapore-based trading company has been facilitating North Korea's export of multiple rocket launchers to Myanmar since North Korea and Myanmar restored diplomatic ties in April last year.

It said the rockets in question have a shell diameter of 240 millimeters, a length of 1 meter and a range of 65 kilometers, and that they are the same type as deployed by North Korea on its frontline with South Korea.

After North Korea held a nuclear test in October 2006, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution banning any trade with the country in missiles, missile systems and large-caliber artillery systems, along with such items as tanks, armored combat vehicles, combat aircraft and warships.

''We are committed to fulfilling our international obligations to prevent the proliferation and illicit trafficking of arms and weapons of mass destruction,'' the Singapore Foreign Ministry's statement said.

Foreign Minister George Yeo told Parliament in October last year that Singapore's defense sales to Myanmar ''have not been substantial, and have always been carefully limited to items that are not suitable for countering civilian unrest.''

''There have not been any defense sales to Myanmar in recent years and, going forward, we will continue to behave in a responsible manner,'' he said then.

NHK reported that Myanmar's military government has been trying to modernize and build up its armaments, on grounds that its buildup is a key to maintaining its independence as a sovereign state.

The report quoted analysts as saying Myanmar has in recent years bought weapons from China, India, Russia and Ukraine with foreign currency obtained through the sale of natural gas and minerals.

It had been buying small arms from North Korea through mediation by Singapore and China even before last year's restoration of diplomatic ties, but the restoration of ties is believed to have enabled purchase of larger weapons from Pyongyang, according to the report.

Besides being a major trading center, including for reexports, Singapore is also one of the world's 20 largest arms-producing countries.

State-linked ST Engineering is a leading producer and exporter of military equipment ranging from armored vehicles to machineguns and grenade launchers.

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