Nuclear deal with N. Korea denied

Syria and North Korea denied that they are cooperating on a Syrian nuclear program, and they accused U.S. officials of spreading the allegations for political reasons -- either to back Israel or to block progress on a deal between Washington and Pyongyang.

Andrew Semmel, acting U.S. deputy assistant secretary of State for nuclear nonproliferation policy, said Syria may have had contacts with “secret suppliers” to obtain nuclear equipment.

Semmel did not identify the suppliers, but said that North Koreans were in Syria and that he could not exclude involvement by the network run by the disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

North Korea strongly denied it secretly helped Syria develop a nuclear program, maintaining the charge was fabricated by U.S. hard-liners to block progress in North Korea’s relations with the U.S. A Syrian Cabinet minister also ridiculed the speculation.

From Times Wire Reports