Volume 1 - Iraq Watch

to an earlier meeting held in Pyongyang 11 June2001 and to a visit by a delegation to BaghdadIraq from 2 to 7 September 2001. They refer to6 contracts in total and to future long-term cooperation.Supplied goods included: ammunition,communication equipment, short-range S-S missiles,artillery and night vision systems, powder forammunition, and light naval boats.• A 31 December 2001 letter from SES International(a Syrian Company) to Tosong Technology TradingCorporation indicates that the North Koreancompany received a cash payment from Iraq’s StateOil Marketing Organization (SOMO). SES took a10 percent commission for their efforts, accordingto their agreement with the Al-Basha’ir Company,the MIC’s chief procurement front company.• By 2 March 2002, a letter from Al-Basha’ir Companyto Tosong Technology Trading stated that contractswere signed and will be financed according tothe Iraqi–Syrian Protocol. The letter also stipulatedthat Tosong must nominate a Syrian company forthis purpose.• In a 4 April 2002 letter, a Mr. J.B.K from theTosong Technology Corp’s Damascus office suggestedto Mr. Muzahim Hassan, the MIC DeputyMinister, that a more suitable transportation methodfor the contracted goods should be found. Herecommended that the goods in question should bemoved to Syria by aircraft rather than using shiptransportation.2001: North Korean Delegations Plan To VisitIraqi Intelligence OrganizationsA recovered letter dated 16 May 2001 from the authorizedmanager of the Al Maimana General TradingCompany to, intelligence agent nr993 of the Directorateof General Military Intelligence, reads, “For thesake of improving the job that our company, is doingwith your department, a delegation from North Koreaincluding a large number of the specialized companiesin the field of defense will visit the country forthe period from 29 May 2001 to 03 June 2001.”2001: North Korean Delegations Visited IraqEvidence supplied by an Iraqi with direct access indicatesthat the Al-Karamah State Establishment hadmany foreign suppliers and, in 2001, hosted visitorsfrom North Korea.• Representatives from a North Korean companyreportedly visited Iraq for three days in April orMay 2001. The North Korean delegates attendedmeetings covering a range of subjects, includingone meeting focused on rocket engines.• The North Koreans were interested in technicalaspects surrounding Iraq’s indigenously producedrocket engines and how Iraqi engineers welded theircombustion chambers and nozzle assemblies.• Iraq’s main interest during the discussions was toobtain parts and solutions to missile-related engineeringproblems.Possible Breaches of UN Sanctions by RussianCompaniesSummary of the Russian involvement 1999-2003:Russian engineers visited Baghdad providing technicalassistance for the al Samud missile program.Russian companies prepared equipment for airdefense, offered missile launchers, signed a contractfor missile gyros, and invited Iraqis to visit Moscowfactories. Russians offered to supply military technologyfor Iraqi rockets and missiles. Meetings were alsoheld in the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow where Russiancompanies offered to provide technical expertise toimprove and to build weapons systems, includingtanks.1999: Russian Missile Technical Support VisitA source indicates that seven Russian engineersprovided technical assistance to the al-Samud missileprogram in 1999. The Russians also reportedly suppliedmachines and parts to Iraq. The MIC arrangedand funded the contract that the Iraq IntelligenceService (IIS) oversaw.276