VIETNAM STOCKING UP 'SCUDS', ASIA PACIFIC
Vietnam has obtained a quantity of surface-to-surface missiles(SSMs) from North Korea to supplement its inventory of Russian-madeSS-1 'Scud B' SSMs, Asian-based intelligence sources have revealedto Jane's Defence Weekly.The new
SSMs are described as "modified Scuds", but neither
thespecific designation nor the quantity is known. The phrasingsuggests they may be of the 'Scud C' variant, which North Koreabegan to develop in 1984.Pyongyang produced 'Scud B' and 'Scud C' SSMs from the late 1980s toearly 1990s but production probably ceased when its focus shifted tothe more sophisticated Nodong and Taepo Dong ballistic missileprogrammes. The 'Scud B' has a range of 300km and a payload of985kg.
The 'Scud C' extends this range to 550km and has a reducedpayload of 770kg, along with improved guidance.
The SSM purchase may have been finalised by Vietnamese vice defenceminister Nguyen Thoi Bung, since retired, during his December 1996visit to Pyongyang. It formed part of a package deal worth anestimated $100 million, probably paid in whole or in part throughbarter arrangements for commodities such as rice. Other elements ofthe package included two Sang-o-class submarines (JDW 9 December), aquantity of Igla (probably SA-16 'Gimlet') manportable air-defencesystems and, perhaps, other items.The report of North Korea's missile sale to Vietnam coincides withthe unsuccessful conclusion of a fourth round of talks betweenPyongyang and Washington on missile non-proliferation
VIETNAM STOCKING UP 'SCUDS' - Jane's Defence Weekly