THE Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) yesterday dismissed foreign media reports that state-owned aerospace manufacturer Yuzhmash may have supplied rocket engines to North Korea, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

“Ukraine has never supplied rocket engines or any kind of missile technology to North Korea,” Oleksandr Turchynov, head of NSDC, was quoted as saying by his press service.

Turchynov said the information, which had been spread by the media, was “not based on any grounds and provocative by its content”.

Earlier in the day, The New York Times, citing a missile expert, said Yuzhmash was “most likely” the source of engines for North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were launched last month.

The Yuzhmash plant, headquartered in Ukraine’s southeastern city of Dnipro, produces space craft, rocket launch vehicles, rocket engines and other equipment.

According to its website, the company carries out foreign economic activities in 23 countries. – Bernama, August 15, 2017.