`U.S. eyeing N.K.-Myanmar nuke ties`

The newly-appointed U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific reportedly said Washington was eyeing nuclear ties between North Korea and Myanmar.

Kurt Campbell said in a written reply for a Congressional confirmation hearing that the Southeast Asian country and North Korea were strengthening their partnership, according to Radio Free Asia, a private station funded by the U.S. Congress that broadcasts in nine Asian languages.

RFA reported that Campbell picked North Korea and Russia as supporters of Myanmar`s nuclear development, while noting that the Southeast Asian country was not running a nuclear reactor.



Russia and Myanmar signed an agreement in May 2007 to build nuclear facilities, including a 10-megawatt reactor for research purposes, Campbell was quoted as saying by the radio station.

The United States raised concerns regarding this in an ASEAN Regional Forum where both Russia and North Korea attended, Campbell said.

Under the bilateral agreement, hundreds of Burmese scientists were to be trained in Russia, he said.

As North Korea was strengthening its ties with Burma, Campbell said he would continue to closely watch all external support for Burma`s nuclear development, including those by Russia and North Korea.

The U.S. official added that he believed Burma did not have the legal, technological or financial infrastructure essential for safe nuclear development.

Campbell, who assumed the post last month, is expected to visit Seoul later this week to meet with top officials here ahead of talks between Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum from July 17-23.

Campbell is expected to make his first tour to Northeast Asian nations, including South Korea, just before attending the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phuket.

Campbell, who replaced Christopher Hill, is known to be an expert on Asian affairs, having served as a top adviser on Asian affairs to former U.S. president Bill Clinton.

(sophie@heraldm.com

By Kim So-hyun