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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. |
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 deal | Landmark 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 the landmark deal reached in 2007, Pyongyang agreed to close its main reactor and divulge the full extent of its nuclear programme by December. | |
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. |