North Korea Source of 40 Percent of Developing World's Missiles

source britannica.com

July 25, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Forecast International; issued July 22, 2011)

SEOUL --- North Korea is the top supplier of ballistic missiles to developing nations. Forty percent of all ballistic missiles sold to these countries since 1987 have come from North Korea, according to a new study.

This means that roughly 1,200 ballistic missiles were sold between 1987 and 2009.

The recipients of these missiles include Iran, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Pakistan. Other major suppliers include Russia (400 missiles) and China (270 missiles).

Sales of North Korean missiles did decline rapidly in 1994, partly due to the end of the Iran-Iraq War and the development of production lines within customer nations.

After this date, North Korea began supplying missile components and materials.