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VOA : BURMA-NORTH KOREA / ARMS



Voice of America
DATE=8/4/98

BURMA-NORTH KOREA / ARMS
AMY BICKERS (HONG KONG)
 

INTRO:  THE MAGAZINE "JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY" SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS
SOLD ARTILLERY PIECES TO BURMA. AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM THE 
V-O-A ASIA NEWS CENTER, THE DEAL WAS REPORTEDLY BROKERED BY 
CHINA.

TEXT:  THERE ARE SIGNS RELATIONS BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND BURMA 
MAY BE IMPROVING.  ACCORDING TO "JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY",  RANGOON
RECENTLY BOUGHT 20 ARTILLERY PIECES FROM  PYONGYANG.  

IT IS REPORTEDLY THE FIRST TRADE TRANSACTION BETWEEN THE TWO 
SINCE 1983.  IN THAT YEAR NORTH KOREAN ASSASSINS KILLED FOUR 
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH KOREAN CABINET WHO WERE VISITING BURMA.  THE
BOMB THEY PLANTED ALSO KILLED 11 OTHERS.  DIPLOMATIC TIES HAVE 
NOT BEEN RESTORED SINCE THEN. 

ACCORDING TO "JANE'S", CHINA IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ARRANGED THE 
DEAL FOR THE 130-MILLIMETER FIELD GUNS.  PAUL BEAVER, SPOKESMAN 
FOR JANES INFORMATION GROUP, OWNER OF "JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY", 
SAYS THE SIZE OF THE DEAL IS NOT WHAT MATTERS.  HE SAYS IT 
REFLECTS CHINA'S GOOD REPUTATION WITH BURMESE AUTHORITIES .

                       /// BEAVER ACT ///

         CHINA HAS FOR A LONG TIME, PERHAPS A DECADE NOW, BEEN 
         INVOLVED IN VERY CLOSE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BURMESE 
         AUTHORITIES.  THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE SETTING UP OF A 
         RADAR AND SURVEILLANCE STATION, CREATING PORT FACILITIES
         AND SETTING UP A RAILWAY LINK DIRECTLY INTO CHINA.  
         EVERYTHING IN FACT THE CHINESE HAVE WANTED TO DO FOR 
         CENTURIES, TO GET ACCESS TO THE INDIAN OCEAN.  AND 
         THROUGH BURMA THEY APPEAR TO HAVE GOT THAT. 

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. BEAVER SAYS THIS SALE IS THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE PROOF THAT 
CHINA IS TRYING TO BRING BURMA AND NORTH KOREA TOGETHER.  HE ALSO
OBSERVES THAT AFTER 15-YEARS OF STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN 
PYONGYANG AND RANGOON, IT SHOWS HOW MUCH NORTH KOREA NEEDS MONEY.
HE BELIEVES DESPERATION MAY DRIVE NORTH KOREA TO SELL WEAPONS TO 
OTHER STATES THAT TRADITIONAL ARMS-SELLING  NATIONS AVOID.

                       /// BEAVER ACT ///

         IT SEEMS THE NORTH KOREANS ARE EXERTING INFLUENCE WHERE 
         THEY CAN AT THE MOMENT, AND ALSO TRYING TO GET AS MANY 
         DEFENSE SALES AS THEY CAN TO TRY AND BRING FOREIGN 
         CURRENCY INTO THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC 
         SITUATION.  THEY CLAIM THEY ARE LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBLE 
         EXPORT MARKETS INCLUDING IRAN AND PAKISTAN, BECAUSE THEY
         NEED THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO BUY FOOD.  

MR. BEAVER SAYS THE SALE ALSO HAS ADVANTAGES FOR BURMA, WHICH 
CANNOT BUY WEAPONS FROM MANY NATIONS.  

                       /// BEAVER ACT ///

         BURMA IS SUFFERING FROM AN ARMS EMBARGO FROM JUST ABOUT 
         EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND IT HAS A REQUIREMENT FOR
         ARTILLERY PIECES BECAUSE IT IS FIGHTING TWO INSURGENCY 
         WARS IN  THE STATES IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY, ONE 
         AGAINST THE KAREN PEOPLE, AND ONE AGAINST DRUG BARONS.  

                         /// END ACT ///

MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY THE ARTILLERY BURMA PURCHASED IS NOT IDEAL 
FOR THESE CONFLICTS,  BECAUSE THE FIGHTING DOES NOT TAKE PLACE IN
FIXED POSITIONS.  STILL,THE WEAPONS WHICH HAVE A RUSSIAN DESIGN 
ARE EASY TO MANEUVER.  THEY CAN BE DRAGGED BEHIND A TRUCK, 
MOUNTED ON A VEHICLE OR HANDLED BY SOLDIERS OVER SHORT DISTANCES.

ANALYSTS SAY THE NEWS OF THIS PURCHASE IS SURE TO UPSET OFFICIALS
IN THAILAND, SINCE THESE GUNS COULD HYPOTHETICALLY BE TURNED 
AGAINST THE THOUSANDS OF BURMESE REBELS LIVING ALONG THE THAI 
BORDER.

IT IS ALSO BOUND TO CONCERN ANOTHER BURMESE NEIGHBOR -- INDIA.  
OFFICIALS THERE ARE SAID TO BE WATCHING, AS BURMA ATTEMPTS TO 
MODERNIZE ITS ARMED FORCES, BECAUSE OF RANGOON'S CLOSE 
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA -- AND CHINA'S TIES TO INDIA'S RIVAL 
PAKISTAN.   (SIGNED)

NEB/AB/FC/RAE

04-Aug-98 7:33 AM EDT (1133 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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