nuclear related 241007

Independent experts detail nuclear signs at Syrian site

October 24, 2007

Independent experts have pinpointed what they believe to be the Euphrates River site in Syria that was bombed by Israel last month, and satellite imagery shows buildings under construction roughly similar in design to a North Korean reactor capable of producing nuclear material for one bomb a year, the experts say.

Photographs taken before the Sept. 6 airstrike depict a compound that includes a tall, boxy structure similar to the type used to house a gas-graphite reactor. They also show what could have been a pumping station to supply cooling water for a reactor, say experts David Albright and Paul Brannan of the Institute for Science and International Security. The facility is about 90 miles from the Iraqi border, according to the institute report to be released today.

Source: LA Times

Photos said to show Israeli target in Syria

Wed Oct 24, 1:22 AM ET

Independent experts have satellite imagery of what they believe to be a Syrian nuclear site targeted in an Israeli air strike last month, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said the photographs taken before the Israeli attack show buildings under construction similar in design to a North Korean reactor, the newspaper reported.

They also show what could have been a pumping station used to supply cooling water for a reactor, the Post said, citing experts David Albright and Paul Brannan of ISIS, a research group that tracks nuclear weapons and stockpiles.

Israel, an important ally to the United States in the region, has confirmed it carried out an air strike on Syria on September 6 but has not described the target. Syria said only that the target was a building under construction.

Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector, said the size of the structures suggested that Syria might have been building a gas-graphite reactor similar to the one North Korea built at Yongbyon, the paper reported.

According to an ISIS report to be released on Wednesday, the Euphrates River site is just north of the desert village of At Tibnah in the region of Dayr Az Zawr and about 90 miles from the Iraqi border, the Post reported.

The Washington Post said some nuclear experts urged caution in interpreting the ISIS photos, noting the type of reactor favoured by North Korea has few distinguishing characteristics visible from the air.

"You can look at North Korea's (reactor) buildings, and they look like nothing," John Pike, a nuclear expert and director of GlobalSecurity.org, told the Post.

The New York Times reported last week the site targeted by Israel was modelled on a facility North Korea used for stockpiling atomic bomb fuel.

Syria has one declared, small research nuclear reactor under safeguard of the International Atomic Energy Agency and has denied hiding any nuclear activity.

Source: Yahoo

Pyongyang cements ties with Syria

By Julien Barnes-Dacey in Damascus

October 24 2007 02:24

A high-ranking North Korean official has concluded a visit to Syria just weeks after allegations of nuclear co-operation between the two countries emerged following the September 6 Israeli air strike on Syrian territory.

Choe Thae Bok, the speaker of North Korea’s parliament, was in Damascus for high-level talks with Syrian officials including President Bashar al-Assad.

Discussions focused on “relations of co-operation and friendship between the two countries”, according to the Syrian News Agency.

“This visit is showing the good ties between Syria and North Korea. The Koreans are supporting our legitimate rights and this visit was scheduled months ago. The Korean delegation is a parliamentary delegation and our talks never discussed the nuclear issue,” said Suleiman Haddad, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to reports emerging from Washington, the Israelis attacked North Korean-aided nuclear facilities in north-eastern Syria last month. Syria denies the accusations, with Mr Assad saying recently that the target was an “unused military building”.

It is known that the North Koreans have provided missile technology to Syria, however, both sides have denied a nuclear relationship.

Pyongyang possesses nuclear capabilities that it says it has not exported, while Syria rejects accusations that it is pursuing a nuclear programme.

Analysts say the North Korean visit was a sign of the increased confidence being displayed by the Assad regime in the face of international criticism.

Syria is refusing to participate in the proposed Middle East peace conference in the US late this year unless the issue of the Golan Heights is placed on the agenda.

The Golan Heights have been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and are a central point of conflict between the two countries.

During his visit, Mr Choe affirmed Korea’s unity with the Syrian position.

North Korea “stands by Syria in facing the challenges and supports its legitimate efforts to return the occupied Syrian Golan”, Mr Choe told Naji Otari, Syrian prime minister.

Source: FT