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Report: N. Korea may have sold uranium
AP, via Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 02.02.05 | George Gedda

Posted on 02/02/2005 8:20:32 AM PST by SoFloFreeper

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House said Wednesday that North Korea's nuclear initiative is a threat to world peace and urged the secretive regime in Pyongyang to resume talks aimed at ending the program.

"North Korea's nuclear program and nuclear weapons programs and its past and continuing proliferation activities are a threat to global peace and security," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "North Korea's actions underscore the importance of moving forward through the six-party talks."

McClellan, however, would not comment on a published report that said that based on scientific testing, U.S. intelligence agencies and government scientists believe that North Korea sold processed uranium to Libya. He said he would not discuss intelligence matters.

McClellan urged North Korea to return to the six-party talks soon. He said two members of the National Security Council staff recently traveled to several Asian capitals to discuss ways to restart the negotiations.

"We put forward a proposal at the last round of talks," he said. "We believe it addresses the concerns of all parties involved in those decisions. We believe that the proposal is the way forward to finding a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue in North Korea."

"The proposal and the six-party process is the best way for North Korea to address the concerns of the international community and to end its international isolation," he said.

According to a report in The New York Times Wednesday editions, the scientific finding supports earlier clues that the dictatorship exported fuel for atomic weapons. Government officials in Washington are trying to determine whether North Korea has sold uranium, an ingredient necessary for atomic weapons, to other countries, including Iran and Syria. So far, there is no evidence of that.

The Times reported that international inspectors tested nearly two tons of uranium material that Libya surrendered to the United States last year when it dismantled its nuclear program. The material, uranium hexafluroide, can be converted into bomb fuel.

An unnamed official at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, where extensive testing was performed in recent months, told the Times, "with a certainty of 90 percent of better, this stuff's from North Korea."

Experts said the findings advance the West's understanding of North Korea's uranium program.

"It means the North Koreans have built a facility to process uranium," Leonard S. Specter, the deputy director of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute in California, told the Times. "And it raises the disturbing prospect that they've now made enough of it to feel comfortable selling some."

Nuclear intelligence experts said they compared samples of the Libyan uranium with samples from other countries by matching uranium isotopes.

They concluded that the uranium had to have come from North Korea.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: korea; libya; uranium; wmd
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1 posted on 02/02/2005 8:20:33 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoFloFreeper

Kicking butt and naming names.


2 posted on 02/02/2005 8:22:33 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: SoFloFreeper
The White House said Wednesday that North Korea's nuclear initiative is a threat to world peace

yeah. Israel knew what to do with Iraq's nuclear capabilities....

3 posted on 02/02/2005 8:23:40 AM PST by Terriergal (What is the meaning of life?? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever.)
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To: Howlin

Wow, good thing we invaded Iraq.

*ducks*


4 posted on 02/02/2005 8:23:57 AM PST by MCHawking
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To: SoFloFreeper
McClellan, however, would not comment on a published report that said that based on scientific testing, U.S. intelligence agencies and government scientists believe that North Korea sold processed uranium to Libya. He said he would not discuss intelligence matters.

The White House said it or not?

5 posted on 02/02/2005 8:24:07 AM PST by GVnana (If I had a Buckhead moment would I know it?)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Not suprising. Something needs to be done SOON! I hope for successful "talks", but I think eventually we're gonna have to act militarily.


6 posted on 02/02/2005 8:24:36 AM PST by Jay777 (Gen. Tommy Franks for President in 08)
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To: Howlin

This is going to get very interesting.


7 posted on 02/02/2005 8:24:40 AM PST by Dog
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To: Howlin

Thank you President Clinton.


8 posted on 02/02/2005 8:24:48 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (60 votes and the world changes.)
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To: MCHawking

The simple fact that Sadam tried to kill Bush Sr is reason to invade. Im a firm believer if someone slaps you in the face, you hit them back with a sledge hammer.. just to make a very nice example of them.


9 posted on 02/02/2005 8:26:43 AM PST by Next_Time_NJ (NJ demorat exterminator)
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To: SoFloFreeper

let's remember that AP reported the story of terrorists having abducted what turned out to be an action figure ... maybe this nuclear stuff is really just a can of hair gel


10 posted on 02/02/2005 8:26:44 AM PST by InvisibleChurch (Look! Jimmy Carter! History's greatest monster!)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Is NK next??


11 posted on 02/02/2005 8:27:06 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
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To: SoFloFreeper

This is a big story. N. Korea has now been publicly fingered by the White House as a nuclear dealer.


12 posted on 02/02/2005 8:27:35 AM PST by Rutles4Ever (This is my tagline.)
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To: SoFloFreeper
The AP is outright LYING!!

McClellan, however, would not comment on a published report that said that based on scientific testing, U.S. intelligence agencies and government scientists believe that North Korea sold processed uranium to Libya. He said he would not discuss intelligence matters.

The White House did NOT say what the AP claims in the headline!

I hate these leftist b**tards! This will be picked up by EVERY Euro/Socialist "News" outlet overhere and be blown WAY out of proportion. Of course, that is exactly what the AP intended!

13 posted on 02/02/2005 8:27:53 AM PST by An.American.Expatriate (Life is sexually transmitted.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Don't forget to send some of those kudos to Jimmuh Carter.


14 posted on 02/02/2005 8:28:08 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: Dog

It already is; I thought we'd been in the doldrums after the election and I might actually get something done!

Wrong!


15 posted on 02/02/2005 8:28:38 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Is anyone surprised that a nation ruled by a paranoid tyrant would sell uranium to a terrorist nation?


16 posted on 02/02/2005 8:29:39 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (God is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: An.American.Expatriate
The White House did NOT say what the AP claims in the headline!

Unless the AP recently changed their headline, they did not lie in their headline.

It seems the poster of this article may have violated the forum rules and changed the headline himself.

17 posted on 02/02/2005 8:32:58 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Terriergal
yeah. Israel knew what to do with Iraq's nuclear capabilities.... They know what to do with Iran's as well, and if it wasn't for the Russian-built bunkers which probably protect alot of the program, I imagine they'd have done it by now. Having nuclear weapons (North Korea) and almost having them (Iran) is a huge difference in terms of response strategy.
18 posted on 02/02/2005 8:36:02 AM PST by truthchaser
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To: dead; SoFloFreeper; Admin Moderator

Thanks for that dead.

SoFlo - did you use the original headline, or did you create it yourself?

It's not considered "nice" to change the original!


19 posted on 02/02/2005 8:37:10 AM PST by An.American.Expatriate (Life is sexually transmitted.)
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To: dead; SoFloFreeper; Admin Moderator
Actual Headline from link:

Report: N. Korea may have sold uranium

20 posted on 02/02/2005 8:39:47 AM PST by Principled
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