Seoul, U.S. officials discuss alleged N.K. uranium export

A U.S. national security official yesterday discussed with key South Korean counterparts ways to address North Korea`s nuclear ambitions amid reports the communist state apparently exported processed uranium, a key fuel for atomic weapons, to Libya.

Michael Green, senior director for Asia at the White House National Security Council, met Korean National Security Adviser Kwon Jin-ho, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon before leaving for Vietnam in the evening. Green arrived here Wednesday after visiting Japan and China.

During talks with Lee Jong-seok, deputy secretary general of South Korea`s National Security Council, on Wednesday night, Green delivered a handwritten message from President George W. Bush to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, a Foreign Ministry official said. He didn`t elaborate on details.

Green`s visit coincided with reports by the New York Times and Washington Post about North Korea`s alleged proliferation of nuclear material and Bush`s State of the Union address, sparking questions over whether there was more behind the visit than the official explanation.

On Wednesday, the two major newspapers said laboratory tests on toxic material surrendered by Libya when it dismantled its nuclear program last year made U.S. intelligence officials 90 percent certain that North Korea provided nearly two tons of uranium hexafluoride to the Libyans in 2001. The material could be enriched into weapons-grade material if fed into nuclear centrifuges.

The communist state did not immediately respond to the reports.

The Seoul government yesterday remained reserved in its official response and denied Green`s visit was aimed at informing South Korea, Japan, and China of "the alarming intelligence."

"The government is seeking the truth about the reports but is willing to discuss all related issues in the six-party talks," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Kyu-hyung.

Some military officials expressed concern that Washington might consider a military engagement option to resolve the 29-month old nuclear standoff with North Korea, though Bush spoke in his State of the union about working for a peaceful solution.

"The United States regards as crossing a red line any transfer of nuclear materials from the North to a third country or terrorist groups," a high-level military officer said on condition of anonymity.

He feared the report of the uranium transfer might present U.S. hard-liners with an excuse to argue against more time to find a diplomatic solution.

Paik Hak-soon, a North Korean affairs expert at the privately run Sejong Institute, questioned the credibility of the Times and Post reports, as the laboratory tests pinpointed the North without decisive evidence.

The tests were conducted by eliminating accused sources of uranium one by one, while securing no North Korean uranium sample for comparison with the Libya material. "I think the reports might have been leaked from U.S. hard-liners to set the tone after the Bush speech," Paik said in an interview.

(smjoo@heraldm.com)



By Joo Sang-min