D.P.R.K. Aided Israeli Target in Syria, Experts Say

Private analysts yesterday reaffirmed speculation that the recent Israeli air attack against Syria was targeting nuclear or missile activity that Syria has been conducting with North Korean assistance, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Sept. 24).

“I am definitely hearing it from U.S. and Israeli sources,” said former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.  “The information is very closely held.”

“What the Israelis struck I cannot say; whether a nuclear or missile facility is not clear,” added Bolton, now with the American Enterprise Institute.

Any evidence of joint activity between North Korea and Syria should be grounds to retain Pyongyang on a list of nations that U.S. officials believe are supporters of terrorism, Bolton said (see GSN, Sept. 25).

“If they are cooperating with Syria or Iran, such as on ballistic missile stuff, they should stay on (the list) with Syria and Iran,” he said.  “If you are supporting terrorist regimes, you are a supporter of terror” (Barry Schweid, Associated Press/FoxNews.com, Sept. 26).

Meanwhile, a South Korea expert said Syria has been trying to acquire uranium enrichment technology and that North Korea had probably given Damascus uranium hexafluoride, a gaseous form of the material that can be processed by centrifuges.

Kim Tae-woo, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Defense Analyses, said the United States was choosing not to confront Pyongyang over the transfer at this week’s six-nation nuclear talks in Beijing (see related GSN story, today).

“The U.S. government has some evidence, but they seem to be deciding now is not the right time to talk about it,” said Kim, whose institute is affiliated with South Korea’s Defense Ministry (Donald Kirk, Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 26).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.