India denies training N Korean experts in ballistic technology

The allegations came up in an Al Jazeera article, citing a UN Security Council report, that the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP) has trained at least 30 North Koreans in the last 20 years of its existence.

The trained North Koreans included “Paek Chang-Ho, who was designated for his role in the launch of the Unha-3 rocket” on December 12, 2012, according to the UN Security Council report of February-March 2016. Paek is reported to be the vice-director of Scientific Research and Development Department of North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration.

Currently, the centre has two students from that country studying there, the UN report said. One of them is affiliated with North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration, which plays a key role in the country’s nuclear development programme.

But India has denied that the institute conducted courses that could help North Koreans in training or transferring nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes as alleged in the Al Jazeera article. “We have come across the article. The insinuation in the article regarding India’s assistance to North Korea’s UN proscribed activities is baseless and without any merit,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.