Pakistan-North Korea can route nuclear weapons tech via China-Turkey: German report

NEW DELHI: A German report, accessed by ET, has pulled up Pakistan and North Korea for pursuing efforts to build nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and expressed concern that China and Turkey could be used as routes to transfer either raw material or technology accessed from Europe.

The recently prepared report suspected that Pakistan and North Korea are making efforts to procure some raw material for such weapons or technology under garb of dual use items from Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The report further alleged that these items can be routed to Pakistan and North Korea through their close ally China besides Turkey, ET has learnt.

These references are part of the annual report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for the German State of Baden-Württemberg (state in Southwest Germany) for the year 2019 was released on June 16. ET has accessed this report.

Explaining the term “proliferation” of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction - or the products and know-how necessary to produce them - and of related delivery systems, the report stated that Pakistan and North Korea are still pursuing such efforts. “They aim to complete existing arsenals, perfect the range, deployability and effectiveness of their weapons and develop new weapons systems. They are trying to obtain the necessary products and relevant knowhow, through illegal procurement efforts in Germany,” the report alleged.

As one of the leading industrial nations and home to numerous high-tech companies, the Federal Republic of Germany is an important area of operation, according to the report. “In order to circumvent existing export restrictions and embargoes, risk states must constantly develop and optimize their procurement methods. To conceal the actual end user, they can procure goods in Germany and Europe with the help of specially established cover companies and, in particular, transport dual-use goods to risk states. Typical bypass countries include Turkey and China.”

While China is a close ally of both Pakistan and North Korea, Turkey is a close partner of Islamabad. It is no secret that Pakistan had supplied nuclear weapons technology to North Korea. China has reportedly assisted both Pakistan and North Korea with nuclear weapons program.