Burmese Junta's Growing Nuclear Ambition

Burmese Junta's Growing Nuclear Ambition

Press Release: Terry Evans

23 June 2009

A 2,000-ton North Korean cargo ship is scheduled to dock at Thilawa port, near Rangoon, in the next few days. The Kang Nam 1 left a North Korean port on Wednesday, and passed along the coast of China. A US Navy destroyer has been tracking the ship since its departure.

The Burmese military government previously permitted the Kang Nam 1 to dock at Thilawa port in 2007 for "humanitarian reasons", alleging the ship was in distress and taking shelter from a storm. However the docking raised suspicions about the ship's cargo at that time.

The true purpose of the Kang Nam 1's impending visit may be linked to Burma’s goal of becoming a nuclear power by 2025, according to some military analysts. The junta has purchased a nuclear reactor from Russia, and has also announced to its elite State Scholars studying in Russia its goal of developing nuclear weapons. Informed sources believe that Burma is mining and milling uranium ore to produce yellowcake, a pre-cursor to weapons-grade uranium. It is feared that the junta is trading the yellowcake with North Korea and Iran for weapons technology.

ENDS

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