U.S. Presses Syria to Scuttle Order for N. Korean Scuds

The Bush Administration has asked Syria to cancel an order for North Korean-made Scud ground-to-ground missiles that are believed already on their way, officials said Friday.

“The United States feels very strongly about proliferation of surface-to-surface missiles, particularly in the Middle East . . . ,” State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said. “We would view with great concern any transfer of this type.”

Tutwiler refused to confirm that U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring the progress of a North Korean freighter carrying the missiles, but other officials said the issue has been raised with Syria.

“The dangers of Scud missiles in the Middle East region have been amply demonstrated during the (Persian) Gulf War,” Tutwiler told reporters, referring to Iraq’s use of the missiles against Israel and Saudi Arabia. “We have made known our views on this subject to all potential suppliers of such weapons, including the North Koreans.”

Another official said that previous protests to North Korea and Syria have had little apparent effect.

Tutwiler said that Syria has long had Scud missiles in its arsenal and “is trying to procure more.” But Israeli officials have said that the Scuds being shipped from North Korea are an advanced model--the Scud-C--with a range of more than 300 miles and greater accuracy than some of Syria’s older missiles. The new missiles’ range would cover all of Israel and Jordan, they noted.

Syria also has sought to buy a medium-range missile from China, the M-9, which is believed to be more accurate than the Scud-C. But U.S. officials said that they had persuaded China to call off the planned sale.