United Nations, Nov. 10: A UN report, which alleges that North Korea may have supplied nuclear technology to Syria, Iran and Burma, may be submitted before the Security Council on Wednesday after being blocked by China for six months.
The 75-page report, “reinforces US claims that North Korea has emerged as a key supplier of banned weapons materials to Washington’s greatest rivals,” the Washington Post reported.
The report indicates, “North Korean involvement in nuclear ballistic missile related activities in certain other countries, including Iran, Syria and Burma.”
The report said it was investigating “suspicious activity” by a sanctioned North Korean firm in Burma, as well as reports that Japan had arrested three individuals for “attempting to illegally export a magnetometer to Burma”. A magnetometer has civilian and military uses — and can be used in a missile guidance system.
China lifted its hold on the report two days ahead of the US President, Mr Barack Obama’s meeting with the Chinese President, Mr Hu Jintao, at the G20 meeting in Seoul.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang arrested a senior researcher at North Korea’s National Academy of Sciences on espionage charges, a Seoul daily reported.
A high-level North Korean source told the Chosun Ilbo of rumours that Kim So In, who is believed to have been in charge of the North’s nuclear and missile development, and his family, were taken to the Yodok concentration camp in May.
A math prodigy who received his doctorate in his early 20s, Mr Kim was said by North Korean state media to have been behind the supposed launch of the North’s first satellite — an event widely believed to have been a long-range ballistic missile test.
The source said Mr Kim is accused of assisting his father Kim Song Il in delivering top secret documents on nuclear development to a foreign agency.