Russia believes Iran, DPRK have no long-range ballistic missiles

Speaking at a conference devoted to the anti-missile defense, Vyacheslav Kondrashov said that the two countries so far are unable to develop a missile capable of reaching the United States or any other NATO country's territory.

He said that Iran and DPRK have been developing tactic missiles but have to come a long way before they will obtain an inter-continental ballistic missile, especially with a nuclear warhead.

"Judging by Iran's and DPRK's existing capabilities, this is technically unrealizable," he said.

Kondrashov also noted that Russian General Staff did not detect that Pyongyang possessed a long-range missile.

"Missile potential of the DPRK is negligible and can't be a threat for the neighboring states," Kondrashov said, adding that missile technologies for the DPRK and other countries have been mostly a matter of political prestige.

He stressed that countries like Libya, Argentina and Egypt have decided to abandon development of their own missile technologies.