U.S. House minority leader: N.K. missile launches 'roadshow' for missile sales

WASHINGTON, July 13 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. House minority leader expressed concerns Thursday about the possibility of North Korea transferring missiles and related technology beyond its borders, saying Pyongyang's missile test-firings could be a "roadshow" aimed at selling the weapons.

"I'm concerned about North Korea for many reasons. But one of them, in addition to most of what you have heard, is that North Korea could be a proliferator," Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters during a news conference.

"And all of these demonstrations of strength are really a roadshow for them to sell to a rogue nation or lone wolf, or whoever, some very dangerous technology," she said.

Concerns about North Korean missile threats have spiked in the U.S. after the communist nation successfully carried out its first test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile that is now capable of striking Alaska and could be further developed to reach the U.S. mainland.

Pelosi said her concerns about the North's proliferation deepened after a trip to the North many years ago.

"When we went to Pyongyang, and we talked about missiles, we talked about MIAs and POWs, we talked about home, we talked about a number of subjects. But about the missiles, because the development of missiles was a national security issue of concern," Pelosi said.

"They said, 'Look, we just make these to sell. You want to buy them? We'll sell them to you,'" she said.

jschang@yna.co.kr
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