North Korea

Pyongyang linked to Syrian nuclear reactor, US claims

Article published on the 2008-04-24 Latest update 2008-04-24 10:09 TU

The nuclear site in Yongbyon in North Korea
(Photo : AFP)

US intelligence officials are set to tell Congress today that Pyongyang shared nuclear knowledge with Syria. The briefing will come after months of questions over an Israeli airstrike in September on a mystery target widely reported to have been a nuclear site. The allegations could further complicate US attempts to encourage North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons programme.

A video, allegedly showing North Koreans working inside the facility, will be shown to members of the Congress.

The officials said the pictures of the site, code-named Al Kibar by the Syrians, played a crucial role in Israel's decision to bomb the facility.

According to sources quoted in the US press, the video will also show that the design of the Syrian reactor core is the same as the North Korean reactor at Yongbyong.

Syria's ambassador to the United Nations has denied that his country had assistance from North Korea.

"We said it many times in the past. There (was) no Syrian-North Korean cooperation whatsoever in Syria...we deny those rumours" Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said.

There was a news blackout for weeks after the Israeli attack in September.

When news came to light of the possible nuclear reactor, the US and Israel refused to comment, with officials saying they feared that the Syrians would retaliate against Israel.