On Dec. 17, 2004, a U.S. official said North Korea could test a long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States at any time. Stephen Rademaker, assistant secretary of state for arms control, told a Capitol Hill conference sponsored by the American Foreign Policy C ouncil that Pyongyang was forging ahead with the development of the Taepo Dong-2 ballistic missile with a third stage. "This missile could be flight tested at any time," Rademaker said. "Such a three-stage missile could deliver a several hundred kilogram payload up to 15,000 kilometers (8,099 nm, 9 ,321 mi)," enough to hit parts of the United States and Europe. At that range, the Taepo Dong-2 would be classified as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Missile proliferation:Iran is known to have acquired engines and missile technology from North Korea, and to have conducted static thrust bench tests for its version of the TP-2, the Shahab-5, now in service.
