<i>Leaked cables show US fears over North Korean missile exports to Iran</i>
Us diplomats believe that Iran received 19 Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) from North Korea, according to confidential US Department of State cables released by the WikiLeaks website and seen by The New York Times.
While the Musudan's estimated range of 2,500 km to 4,000 km means Iran could use it to strike European cities including Berlin, Moscow and Rome, experts have played down the significance of the news.
The Musudan, also known as the Mirim or No Dong B by the US and BM-25 by Israel, is believed to be based on the Russian R-27 (SS-N-6 'Serb'), with which it shares a distinctive triconic nose shape. It is believed to be about 12.5 m long, with a body diameter of 1.5 m and a launch weight of 19,000 kg.
Iran was originally thought to have bought 18 Musudan missile sets from North Korea in 2005. However, a December 2009 report said that some components for these missiles had been intercepted in July 2009 by the United Arab Emirates.
According to the leaked US Department of State cable, dated 24 February 2010, US officials told Russian officials they believed that a shipment of complete systems had taken place and that Iran had received 19, not 18, Musudan missiles.
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