By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The top American general in South Korea said Tuesday that North Korea practically stopped exporting missile technology since 2005, according to the Yonhap News Agency Thursday.
The agency, which obtained transcripts of the remarks Gen. B. B. Bell, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) made during a Senate hearing, reported that Bell said North Korea was believed to be fully observing resolution 1718 of the U.N. Security Council, aimed at suspending all activities related to the North's ballistic missile programs.
The commander, however, expressed concern over Pyongyang's advanced missile capabilities, it said.
Bell's comments were in stark contrast to those of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's the same day, which criticized Pyongyang for proliferating its ballistic missile technology to ``rogue regimes'' such as Iran and Syria.
``On the Korean Peninsula, we all want to see the six-party talks conclude in the complete, verifiable dismantling of Kim Jong-il's nuclear weapons,'' said Cheney. ``Yet the fact remains that North Korea today is developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the American mainland with a nuclear warhead. North Korea also possess a large force of missiles that threaten America's closest allies in Asia and our forces deployed in the region.''
He claimed North Korea has been assisting with Iran's effort to build up missile forces and capabilities.
``Syria is receiving assistance from North Korea in building up its missile forces and Iran has used Syria for years as a transit point to build up military capabilities,'' said Cheney.
North Korea's missile development has been a constant cause of concern, as has its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
In 2006, the communist regime test-fired several missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 believed to be capable of reaching Alaska and Hawaii with a light payload.