North Korea: Ally of US Enemies in Middle East

by Marianne B. Conway

 North Korean Nuclear, Missile, Arms & Engineering Sales to Iran/Hezbollah/Syria:

North Korea has long sold weapons to Iran, a relationship which has reportedly developed into mutual development of missile and nuclear technology, along with North Korean support to Hezbollah (often spelled "Hizballah" by the U.S. government), the terrorist group and Iranian proxy force, and Hamas, rulers of the Gaza strip and practioneers of terrorism.

North Korea has also sold its expertise in special operations and underground facilities, long used against U.S. and RoK forces in Korea, to these clients, helping Hezbollah achieve unexpected success in its 2006 war with Israel. The North Korean/Iran relationship has also included Syria, and Pyongyang has had substantial dealings with Pakistan and Egypt, among others.

"Evidence appeared in the form of several intercepted shipments of North Korean arms bound for Iran in 2009," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) reported in 2010. "Three vessels were intercepted, which contained North Korean weapons that Western intelligence and Israeli intelligence officials and non-government experts believe were bound for Hezbollah and Hamas, terrorist groups on the official U.S. list of international terrorist organizations. The largest of these shipments was aboard a ship that was searched in Dubai before departing for Iran in July 2009. All three ships contained North Korean components for 122 mm Grad rockets and rocket launchers.

The shipment intercepted in Dubai contained 2,030 detonators for the Grad rockets and related electric circuits and solid fuel propellant for rockets. The 122 mm rockets have a range of about 25 miles. Iran, particularly the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is known to have supplied significant quantities of these rockets and rocket launchers to Hezbollah and Hamas, which have frequently fired them into Israel."

The report went on to note that in late 2009, tons of North Korean weapons including rocker launchers and surface-to-air missile parts were interpreted at a Thai airport, apparently on the way to Iran.

These reports are important to bear in mind as the United States increases pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. The Iranian/North Korean relationship may allow unexpectedly rapid development by one or both of the partners as they share information and best practices. In addition, it is known that both nations have highly sophisticated defenses against likely attack, from the U.S. and South Korea in the case of North Korea, and the U.S. and Israel in the case of Iran.

However, the full extent of these defensive positions may be underestimated, especially by those unfamiliar with the sometimes astonishing capability of North Korea to create underground facilities, including factories and even airfields. The nation was subjected to massive bombing during the 1950-3 Korean War, and its leaders determined that they would do everything possible to reduce the importance of America's air superiority in any future campaign.

Finally, the strength of these nations in special operations and their potential cooperation in this arena as well certainly increases concerns about a competent and perhaps even surprising counter-attack in the event of preemptive action by the West, as well as the potential of even more sophisticated terrorist tactics.

For example, there is evidence North Korea has trained Iranian operators in advanced infiltration techniques honed in decades of operations against U.S. and South Korean forces in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).



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Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/North-Korea--Ally-of-US-Enemies-in-Middle-East/338796

The current resource development in Myanmar

A country with potential

For a very long time Myanmar has been a country who has been in economic and political isolation. However this situation are changing because today there are indications that economic growth is increasingly possible in this region. Myanmar could very well turn out to be one of the most spectacular performers in the Asian region if they could find a way to optimize its resources. There are a few areas which has been identified as the most viable options such as the strategic geographical location which Myanmar enjoys between some of the emerging giants in the region and many people are in agreement that Myanmar will also benefit from the current integration process in Asia. The population of Myanmar are increasingly youthful and this provides Myanmar with an effective labor force which are likely to attract foreign investment.

Valuable resources

Myanmar actually possesses various types of natural resources and it has a reasonably competitive agricultural development program. Then they have the ability to generate renewable energy and in particular hydropower. Myanmar are becoming increasingly popular for the foreign investor because of the investment opportunities which exists in various sectors such as telecommunications and also in the tourism industry. In order to make the best of the available resources it is vital that effective long-term planning be done in order to ensure that the current sources remain sustainable and that they will continue to provide benefits to this country.

Currently Myanmar is still a very poor country

Regardless of all the potential which exists in Myanmar it is still one of the very poorest countries in the Asian region and the government will have to overcome many challenges in order to bring about real and lasting change. Although this situation are no longer as desperate as it used to be in previous decades a lot of work has to be done in order to sustain the current development momentum. This is exactly why it is necessary to do an accurate analysis of the available resources in Myanmar and then to devise a long-term plan that will ensure maximum growth that can be maintained over many decades thereby allowing Myanmar to develop as much as possible and to become a serious competitor with in the Asian region.

Myanmar is receiving a lot of attention

In 2011 a special report has been released where in most of the opportunities which are available in Myanmar have been thoroughly investigated. It was during this time that the country initiated some significant economic and political reforms and that is why the 2011 report endeavor to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Myanmar and to determine the specific risks and other challenges which will have to be considered when an investment in Myanmar is considered. It has however become abundantly clear that there are many opportunities and with a substantial investment very lucrative profits may be possible and the rewards of such an investment could possibly be extended over several decades. It may however be best to partner with local entrepreneurs which are more familiar with the opportunities that exists in Myanmar. Read more!

Export Commodities of Pakistan

Exports have decreased in 2015

There have been a slight decrease in Pakistani exports during 2015 when compared to statistics which have been gathered in 2014. This follows on the excellent levels which has been a reached in 2013 which was the year in which the highest level of exports has been recorded in the history of Pakistan. All of these export statistics are updated regularly by the Pakistan Bureau of statistics.
Pakistan are exporting many commodities and goods among which are mineral fuels, various types of manufactured goods as well as beverages. Other exports include live animals as well as various kind of food types and also chemicals and other crude materials. The largest export partner of Pakistan is still the United States followed by China and UAR.

There has been a significant increase in the volumes of Pakistan’s basmati rice exports. This is good news after the export of rice has taken a substantial dip earlier in the year because of various factors such as poor marketing, and lower prices which was charged for equivalent products in India and also because of increases in prices of rice in Pakistan. There are expectations that exports can further increase because the price difference between Indian rice and those which are produced by Pakistan has narrowed significantly making Pakistani rice more attractive to importers of this product.
Another very important export product of Pakistan is spices and there are many producers of various kind of spices in Pakistan that are exporting their products on a continuous basis. The same thing is true for all fruit related products as well as the dried fruits as well as peanuts, almonds, and various other nut products.

Pakistan also export raw cotton and other textile products such as cotton yarn. Various kinds of leather and products which is being manufactured from leather are continuously exported. There are also excellent manufacturers of carpets and rugs and a very large quantity of tents are also manufactured in Pakistan which are being export to foreign markets.

Pakistan is also an exporter of surgical instruments as well as synthetic textiles and even various kinds of sporting equipment. There are also many manufacturers of ready-made garments which contribute handsomely to the overall export scenario of Pakistan. Various type of food related products such as fish, fruit and even vegetables are continuously exported as well is various types of engineering goods and also pharmaceutical and chemical products.

Although Pakistan has an open policy which allows for trade with many different countries it is a well-known fact that their major export destinations is still the US, Japan, Germany, the UK and Hong Kong. Almost 30% of all Pakistani exports find their way to the US. The next biggest partners is Germany and the UK. Exports to Japan has been declining in recent years and are now contributing to any one percent of the total exports of Pakistan which is significantly lower than the 5.7% of a decade ago. There is widespread agreement that in order to ensure more vigorous growth Pakistan will have to diversify both in terms of the markets with whom they deal with and also in terms of the commodities which are being exported.



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Strategies on Land usage in Myanmar

Traditionally Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, had a secondary level of land use for agriculture, with most inhabitants experiencing sub si stance farming for their own families and community. Little else was done on an organised basis although the country became famous for it's natural wealth of rubies. Whilst rubies may arouse thoughts of fabulous jewellery, anyone who has seen a laser scanner in use at a shop or market will know that rubies have a rather more prosaic value. The government of Myanmar is presently conducting a resource audit to establish just what is beneath and on the surface of the earth in it's farming and agricultural land but also in the highlands and mountains. What ever todays world financial climate brings tomorrows problems will need joined up thinking a, if the Country is to prosper and b, if the people are going to prosper.

Commercial and industrial behemoths stride the globe placing pressure, upward pressure, on prices and physical pressure on the land. Consider the Amazon region of Brazil, until relatively recently the Amazon basin was virgin forest. Flyover now and many millions of hectares are under agriculture producing ethanol producing vegetation and soya beans to feed the World Wide demand for reductions in the carbon footprint of entire nation states and the dietary requirements of populations seeking dairy free foods.

Industrial development in Myanmar is, of course, essential and necessary to propel the nation into the business league of rapidly growing nations. Industrial expansion requires land, Myanmar has land in plentiful supply, but Government, and populations may resist an industrial land grab, or simply if the price escalates rapidly as people see a Brazilian style land grab coming to Myanmar then economics may halt that progress. Do we want rape of forests, intensive farming driving indiginous people off the land, as happened there. Sensible management must surely prevail. Arguments such as these will be in the mind of those who have ordered the Resources (Land) audit.

With the prospect of such pressure having a downward effect, or backwards even, it is essential to have an alternative plan of action. With the assurance that Land will always be there, as will resources beneath the ground, and as long as they are left there they will not  depreciate but will conversely appreciate in value, land use can stay pretty much as it is.  Wisdom may suggest that industrial growth, expansion, and with it land use will gather pace.  With Industrial infrastructure comes population growth, demand for housing, demand for intensified food production, mining of natural resources on a major scale, transportation and processing, national wealth and prestige.

Proven wealth in metals such as lead, gold, copper, plus coal and lignite, and precious stones, rubies, as mentioned, and sapphires. Proven wealth in potential growing land, that if properly managed will feed the population expansion and people across the globe. These are matters of great significance, so however, is tourism. Tourism brings Dollars and Pounds Sterling and every other currency of note right into the countrys who encourage cultural tourism and holidaying visitors from around our shrinking world. There are vast opportunities whatever  the proponents and their adversaries have to say. One thing is certain. Land will always be there, it is a fixed asset, it has immeasurable value, not least to the people who live on it.

Official Tradeore B2B Marketplace Video: https://youtu.be/RcmDfuNOIxIrnrn