Daniel Pedersen

North Korea, other foreign advisers consult junta on extensive network of tunnels

Democratic Voice of Burma

  Norway, Oslo

December 05, 2009

Tunnels being built in Burma: Photo DVB

Burma’s military junta is building an extenstive network of tunnels designed to support the military against attack and suppress any insurgency, the Democratic Voice of Burma has reported.

According to documents obtained by DVB, Burma is aggressively bolstering its defence in the event of an invasion and is developing projects ranging from tunnel digging to possible nuclear proliferation.

The documents reveal plans to construct covert ammunitions factories that will produce surface-to-air missiles controlled from underground command bases, and can accommodate heavy weaponry and battalions of troops during military operations.

North Korea and other foreign advisers in Burma are consulting with officials on what now appears to be a the development of a network of some 800 underground tunnels across much of the country.

How, and with what intention, is one of the world’s poorest countries running such a secretive project worth billions of dollars?

Sections of the project date back as far as 1996.

Burma’s military regime: Digging the tunnels

New images have emerged that show North Korean and other foreign advisers in Burma consulting with officials on what now appears to be an extensive network of some 800 underground tunnels across much of the country.

While rife government corruption and uneven development in Burma yesterday awarded Burma a spot at the bottom of Foreign Policy magazine’s Failed States Index, billions of US dollars are now known to have been channeled by the Burmese government into building the tunnels >>> Burma’s military regime: Digging the tunnels

Special: Digging the tunnels, part two

The tunnel project underway in Burma includes plans to build covert ammunitions factories that will produce surface-to-air missiles controlled from underground command bases, leaked intelligence documents reveal.

Last week DVB revealed that some 800 tunnels were under construction throughout Burma, with sections of the project dating as far back as 1996.

The majority of tunneling and construction equipment for the project has been bought from North Korea in a series of deals over the last three years which total at least $US9 billion, according to two purchase orders received by DVB >>> Special: Digging the tunnels, part two

Special: Digging the tunnels, part three

Burma is aggressively bolstering its defence in the event of an invasion, according to a series of leaked reports and testimonies that outline a myriad of projects ranging from tunnel digging to possible nuclear proliferation.

In recent weeks, DVB has revealed that with North Korean help, the Burmese junta is developing a complex network of tunnels that can accommodate heavy weaponry and battalions of troops during military operations >>> Special: Digging the tunnels, part three

ENDS