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So What are the Syrians Doing in North Korea on a Munitions Train?

Raw feed:


‘Source’ Notes Syrian Technicians Killed in Yongch’on
Train Explosion Incident

JPP20040507000021 Tokyo Sankei Shimbun (Internet
version-WWW) in Japanese 07 May 04 Morning Edition
[Corrected version — changing “Ryongchon” to
“Yongch’on”; unattributed report: “DPRK Train
Explosion: Syrian Technicians on Board; Debris
Recovered by Team Wearing Protective Suits Immediately
After Explosion; Possibility of Train Transporting
Military Cargo”]

[FBIS Translated Text]
A military source familiar with Korean Peninsula
affairs revealed on 6 May that Syrian technicians were
killed in a train explosion incident that occurred on
22 April in Yongch’on in the northwestern part of the
DPRK and that the damage was especially serious in
that section of the train where the Syrians were
aboard, along with large equipment. The same source
noted that although the contents of the equipment are
unknown, DPRK military-related personnel wearing
protective suits arrived on the scene immediately
after the explosion and removed debris only from that
section of the train where the Syrian group had been
aboard. Consequently, there is a strong likelihood
that the accident occurred when military materials
were being secretly transported between the DPRK and
Syria.

According to the same source, the technicians aboard
the train had been sent from the Syrian technical
research center called Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche
Scientific (CERS). Although CERS was established to
promote science and technology development, it is
suspected of playing a major role in Syria’s weapons
of mass destruction development program.

The technicians and the cargo were reportedly aboard
the same section of the train. The same source said it
was uncertain whether the cargo was the source of the
explosion or whether it exploded after being set off
by an explosion on another section of the train. The
source then said, “The damage to that section of the
train was the most serious,” noting that nearly 10
Syrians and accompanying North Koreans were killed.

The bodies of the Syrians were carried onto and
transported home on 1 May by a Syrian aircraft, which
had come to Pyongyang to deliver aid supplies.

Syrian and DPRK medical and military personnel who
were involved in transporting [the Syrians and other
victims] were also reportedly wearing protective suits
similar to those worn by the DPRK military personnel
who arrived on the scene immediately after the
accident.

The same source said, “The action taken by Syria and
the DPRK indicates that the cargo was top secret
matter, which the two countries did not want to bring
out into the open.” With regard to the DPRK and Syria,
the United States and other countries have indicated
concern that the two countries are continuing to
cooperate in the development of Syria’s “Scud-D”
missiles, as well as chemical and biological weapons.

Concerning the cause of the explosion incident, the
DPRK has explained that a train carrying fertilizer
containing ammonium nitrate and a railroad tank
carrying petroleum were being shunted, and, in the
process, came into contact with electrical wires, due
to carelessness.

[Description of Source: Tokyo Sankei Shimbun (Internet
version-WWW) — Internet version of daily newspaper
published by Fuji Sankei Communications Group]