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N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor' | N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor' |
(29 minutes later) | |
US intelligence officials have been presenting evidence to Congress they say shows that North Korea is providing nuclear assistance to Syria. | |
The CIA says it has pictures proving that North Koreans were working inside a secret Syrian reactor, according to reports in the US media. | The CIA says it has pictures proving that North Koreans were working inside a secret Syrian reactor, according to reports in the US media. |
The reactor was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last year, the reports say. | The reactor was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last year, the reports say. |
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. |
The claims follows an unexplained air strike by Israel last September on a target inside Syria. | The claims follows an unexplained air strike by Israel last September on a target inside Syria. |
'Not operational' | 'Not operational' |
The images - said to have been obtained by Israel - showed striking similarities between the Syrian facility and the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, reports said. | The images - said to have been obtained by Israel - showed striking similarities between the Syrian facility and the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, reports said. |
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 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said information on the issue could be made public "soon". There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN Syria 'has some explaining to do' | The White House has not commented on the reports, but Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said information on the issue could be made public "soon". There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN Syria 'has some explaining to do' |
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. |
These reports coincide with the end of a two-day meeting between US and North Korean officials on Pyongyang's overdue declaration of its nuclear activities. | These reports coincide with the end of a two-day meeting between US and North Korean officials on Pyongyang's overdue declaration of its nuclear activities. |
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. |
The BBC's Jack Izzard in Washington says these reports, whether true or not, could hamper progress in the stalled agreement. | The BBC's Jack Izzard in Washington says these reports, whether true or not, could hamper progress in the stalled agreement. |