Jul 4, 2010

            Myanmar ’s increasing investments in nuclear and military capabilities is raising concerns of militarization. North Korea-Myanmar Axis is gaining prominence in the alternate media with many reports on web sites run by Burmese exiles. The basis of the cooperation is said to be a secret Memorandum of Understanding signed between Gen Thura Shwe Mann, the regime’s No 3 ranking general during a visit to North Korea with his North Korean counterpart, Gen Kim Kyok-sik in November 2008.

One part of the cooperation is said to be nuclear capacity. Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma quoted a defector stating that the country was involved in a nuclear program. Documents obtained from the exile were examined by Robert Kelley, an American nuclear scientist and former director in the International Atomic Energy Agency who concluded that Myanmar "is probably mining uranium and exploring nuclear technology that is only useful for weapons." Previous reports have also indicated that North Korea was assisting Myanmar dig a series of underground facilities and develop missiles with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers.

The Myanmar government however submitted a written notice to the International Atomic Energy Agency denying that it was developing nuclear facilities or weapons. Ambassador Win Tin stated, "No activity related to uranium conversion, enrichment, reactor construction or operation has been carried out in the past, is ongoing or is planned for the future in Myanmar ."

With a large number of reports coming in the media particularly by dissidents from the country, it was becoming important that the government of Myanmar issue a clarification on plans for nuclear weaponisation. Dissidents are bringing out evidence of existence of projects which may be related to acquiring nuclear capability though these appear to be in nascency. What is also of concern is involvement of North Koreans who have been proliferators in the past and are malign players in the international scene; thereby collaboration between Pyongyang and Nay Pyi Taw is being viewed with suspicion. 

            Other inputs of North Korea Myanmar axis relate to provision of conventional weapons as rocket artillery and radars. One such report again by the Democratic Voice of Burma indicated that work has been completed on a new radar and missile base in Northern Regional Military Command at the Moe Hnyin [Mohnyin] base in Kachin state operated by Rocket Battalion 603, around 80 miles southwest of the state capital, Myitkyina. Another radar base known as Duwun (Pole Star) has been opened on a hill close to Moe Hnyin. Two bases are already operational in Shan state’s Nawnghkio and Kengtung districts, while one was recently opened close to Mandalay division’s Kyaukpadaung town.

            Some other reports indicate that 14 units of 240-mm truck-mounted multiple launch rocket systems were seen at Thilawa Port near Rangoon on the North Korean vessel, Kang Nam I, in early 2008 with indications that 30 units of 240-mm truck-mounted multiple launch rocket systems have been purchased from North Korea.

The Burmese air force is also planning to expand. Procurement of 50 K-8 jet trainer aircraft from China has been reported. “There are two reasons to purchase K-8 trainers,” a source was quoted by the media, “Either for training exercises or for counter-insurgency.” The K-8 jet trainer is fitted with air-to-air missiles and rockets. In 1998-9, the Burmese air force bought 12 K-8 jet trainers from China , which are now stationed at Taungoo Air Base in Pegu Division. In 2009, Burma also signed a contract with Russia for the purchase of 20 MiG-29 jet fighters at a cost of nearly US $570 million. As per the Irrawaddy, Burma has 10 air force headquarters: Bassein Air Base in Irrawaddy Division; Mingaladon Air Base in Rangoon Division; Myitkyina Air Base in Kachin State; Myike Air Base in Tenasserim Division; Namsang Air Base in Shan State; Taungoo Air Base in Pegu Division; Meikhtila (Shante) Flying Training Base; Meikthila Grounding Training Base in Mandalay Division; Magwe Air Base in Magwe Division; and Homemalin Air Base in Sagaing Division.

JULY 2010