Cairo is allegedly proceeding with plans to buy North Korean missile engines, and up to 300 North Korean technicians are in Egypt for the missile program, according to new intelligence reports cited by World Tribune.com.
The engines are for North Korean No-Dong missiles, which have a range of between 1,000 and 1,300 kilometers, according to the report.
The number of North Koreans in both Egypt and in neighboring Libya is said to have increased over the last two years. Much of Egypt's missile development is said to be taking place in Libya, according to the Middle East Newsline.
The issue was raised last month by then chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher is in Washington amid the reports that Cairo has accelerated cooperation with North Korea in the development of intermediate-range weapons.
Officials said Egypt had pledged that it was not cooperating with North Korea, and said some of Washington's allegations referred to cooperation that ended in 1996, says the report – Albawaba.com
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