North aide says defector was only minor scientist BEIJING ¡ª A North Korean nuclear scientist who defected to the United States last year was not a particularly important figure, a senior North Korean source here said yesterday. The linked defections of the U.S.-trained nuclear scientist Kyong Won-ha and a number of military officials, organized privately by nationals of several nations, was reported over the weekend, and Dr. Kyong was described as a central figure in the North Korean nuclear program. ¡°North Korean authorities discovered Dr. Kyong¡¯s disappearance during the second half of last year,¡± the North Korean source said. ¡°As...