This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7364269.stm
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor' | N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor' |
(20 minutes later) | |
North Korea was helping Syria build a nuclear reactor, US officials are to tell lawmakers in a closed session. | North Korea was helping Syria build a nuclear reactor, US officials are to tell lawmakers in a closed session. |
Unnamed officials told a number of US newspapers that the US had video footage of the Syrian facility with North Koreans inside. | Unnamed officials told a number of US newspapers that the US had video footage of the Syrian facility with North Koreans inside. |
Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea. | Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea. |
It follows an unexplained air strike by Israel last September on a target inside Syria. | It follows an unexplained air strike by Israel last September on a target inside Syria. |
According to the Washington Post, the alleged nuclear facility was the target of the bombing. | According to the Washington Post, the alleged nuclear facility was the target of the bombing. |
'Not operational' | 'Not operational' |
The video footage - said to have been obtained by Israel - also showed striking similarities between the Syrian facility and the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, reports said. There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7064263.stm">Syria 'has some explaining to do' | |
However, the facility was not yet operational and there was no fuel for the reactor, officials said. | However, the facility was not yet operational and there was no fuel for the reactor, officials said. |
The White House has not commented on the reports, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates said information on the issue could be made public "soon". | The White House has not commented on the reports, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates said information on the issue could be made public "soon". |
Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, denied the links. | Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, denied the links. |
"There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria. We deny these rumours," he said. | "There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria. We deny these rumours," he said. |
North Korea has previously denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria. | North Korea has previously denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria. |
In a landmark deal reached in February last year, Pyongyang agreed to close its main reactor and divulge the full extent of its nuclear programme by December. | In a landmark deal reached in February last year, Pyongyang agreed to close its main reactor and divulge the full extent of its nuclear programme by December. |
However, it missed the deadline, and while it is taking steps to close its Yongbyon reactor, it has yet to produce a declaration of nuclear activities to the international community's satisfaction. | However, it missed the deadline, and while it is taking steps to close its Yongbyon reactor, it has yet to produce a declaration of nuclear activities to the international community's satisfaction. |