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Iraq, North Korea Disperse Troops to Resist Air Attacks

Aired September 22, 2000 - 6:12 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Officials in Washington report significant military developments in both Iraq and North Korea.

Military affairs correspondent Jamie McIntyre is at the Pentagon with details -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Judy, the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea has always been one of the world's most dangerous borders, and a new Pentagon report concludes it's not getting any safer, despite the easing of tensions and the historic summit between the leaders of the two Koreas.

Two years ago, the North Korean military appeared in decline, as the country was stricken by famine. But thanks in part to $270 million in annual food aid from the United States, the communist regime is once again pouring money into an ambitious program to rebuild and reinforce its million-man army.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM COHEN, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The North Koreans have not in any way diminished their military capability. In fact, they have intensified them. They are training harder this past year than in years previously, and so they've increased their state of readiness. They have during the past year moved more forces for deploy, with heavy artillery pieces also being moved closer to the south.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: One interesting finding in the report, that North Koreans have learned a lot from watching how Iraq and Yugoslavia fought the U.S. military. Some of the same tactics the Serbs used to thwart NATO's attempt to wipe out air defenses are now evident in the way North Korea has dispersed and concealed its forces.

And speaking of Iraq, U.S. intelligence shows that Iraq recently dispersed many of its troops and moved some planes into civilian neighborhoods, actions that suggest it's bracing for an attack.

The United States does have plans to strike Iraq, but only if there is a clear Iraqi provocation, such as a move against the Kurdish minority in the north. So far, there is no sign of that, and military officials in the U.S. think Iraq might just be reacting to the fact that the U.S. has two aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf this weekend, as the USS Abraham Lincoln takes over for the George Washington, which will then head to the Adriatic -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Jamie McIntyre reporting from the Pentagon, thanks.

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