The United States is quietly concerned over the prospect that Libya will deploy its new intermediate-range missiles from North Korea, reported Middle East Newsline (MENL).
According to the news service, US officials are acknowledging that Libya is amassing an arsenal of North Korean No-Dong missiles. They said Pyongyang has completed shipments of the intermediate-range missiles and they have been concealed in sites throughout Libya.
The Libyan missiles, they said, threatens the southern European flank of NATO. Officials said Washington has discussed the issue with Italy and Spain, said Middle East Newsline (MENL).
Officials were quoted as saying that Washington is working with NATO allies to help develop a system to stop Libyan missiles. The Pentagon has awarded a $45 million contract to New Mexico State University for a US Army project for research and development in vulnerability and survivability assessments relating to missile defense systems. The project will be conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Egypt has also been under scrutiny for an alleged No-Dong missile program. The US State Department has said it received satisfactory answers from Egypt that make it believe the program is “within acceptable limits,” meanwhile Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher has categorically denied the existence of such plans – Albawaba.com
