Is Ethiopia Violating UN Sanctions against North Korea: New Evidence
Uncovered
By Andrea Berger
23 December 2014
Introduction
Since the 1970s, Ethiopia has been in the company of North Korea's most
loyal military customers. Amongst other things, Pyongyang has been a source
of munitions, armored personnel carriers, tanks and tank parts, artillery
and rocket fuel. In addition to these forms of assistance, North Korea has
helped Ethiopia construct, operate and upgrade two weapons factory
complexes-today known as the Gafat Armament Industry and Homicho Ammunition
Industry. From Ethiopia's perspective, contracting to North Korea for the
initial supply of weapons production technology was a means of reducing
long-term dependence on foreign military suppliers. (More comically,
according to the Ethiopian Chief of Defence Staff, North Korea's help in
this regard also allows Ethiopia to meet its peacekeeping obligations).[1]
Yet in practice, the effects of Ethiopia's investment have been mixed. On
the one hand, it has indeed learned to build certain varieties of small arms
and munitions domestically, and now even exports its wares to countries like
Sudan.[2] On the other hand, it does not seem to have been able to easily or
entirely eschew North Korean assistance, and may still depend upon their
goods and services................
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Berhane
Received on Wed Dec 24 2014 - 10:35:35 EST