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N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor' N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor'
(20 minutes later)
US intelligence officials have been presenting evidence to Congress they say shows that North Korea has been providing nuclear assistance to Syria.US intelligence officials have been presenting evidence to Congress they say shows that North Korea has been 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.
'Proliferation issue''Proliferation issue'
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. There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN Syria 'has some explaining to do'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. There was no Syria-North Korea co-operation whatsoever in Syria Bashar Jaafari Syrian ambassador to UN 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.
Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who attended the CIA briefing, said there was a "a serious proliferation issue, both for the Middle East and the countries that may be involved in Asia".Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who attended the CIA briefing, said there was a "a serious proliferation issue, both for the Middle East and the countries that may be involved in Asia".
The US needed "good, clear, verifiable information" from the countries involved before North Korea could be removed from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.The US needed "good, clear, verifiable information" from the countries involved before North Korea could be removed from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
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". North Korea agreed to give up its nuclear weapons in return for removal from the blacklist and aid as part of a six-nation deal agreed between North Korea and US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia in February 2007.
The US has accused Pyongyang of missing the deadline to make a full nuclear declaration as promised.
The White House has not commented on the Syrian reactor reports, but Secretary of Defense 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.
Landmark dealLandmark deal
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 the landmark deal reached in 2007, 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. 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.