Ballistic Missile Proliferation
Extent of the Foreign Threat
The worldwide ballistic missile proliferation problem has continued to evolve during the past year. The capabilities of the missiles in the countries seeking to acquire them are growing, a fact underscored by North Korea’s launch of the Taepo Dong 1 in August 1998. The number of missiles in these countries is also increasing. Medium- and short-range ballistic missile systems, particularly if armed with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) warheads, already pose a significant threat to U.S. interests, military forces, and allies overseas. We have seen increased trade and cooperation among countries that have been recipients of missile technologies from others….
