Posted on 12/19/2002 2:36:53 PM PST by Heartlander2
The United States learned of Pyongyang's covert nuclear weapons development program through a tip by a North Korean defector to South Korea, according to Japanese government sources.
The sources said the defector belonged to the technical division of North Korea's highly classified uranium enrichment facility. The man reportedly defected to South Korea late last year.
He told South Korean authorities details about the facility's location and the technology used there, the sources said.
The defector reportedly said Pyongyang started its nuclear development program in 1998. At that time, the international community did not think North Korea had the advanced technology needed to develop nuclear arms with enriched uranium.
Therefore, South Korean authorities initially found the information suspect. The information was so detailed, however, that Seoul finally decided in January to report it to the United States, according to Japanese and U.S. diplomatic sources.
In light of this information, Washington started reviewing various photos its spy satellite had already taken of the suspected district and strengthened its monitoring of North Korea in January, the sources said. In July, Washington concluded the facility actually was for the development of nuclear weapons.
While it kept the information on North Korea's nuclear development project classified, Washington secretly investigated how North Korea procured a gas centrifuge, which is essential for uranium enrichment, finally concluding that Pakistan had sold the apparatus to Pyongyang.
Following that, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly visited Pyongyang for talks with high-ranking officials in October. It was during those talks that North Korea admitted it was continuing its nuclear arms development project.
Add Pak to the hit list. So many enemies, so little time.
Geez, Pakistan is acting just like France and Germany, now. Just what we need: more "allies" like them.
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