New York Times Reports North Korea Sold Two Tons of Uranium to Libya

The internet New York Times reported the claim on May 22 that North Korea provided Libya with nearly two tons of uranium in early 2001.

Citing American officials and European diplomatic officials, the newspaper reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has discovered evidence that North Korea has sold uranium to Libya.

In particular, the newspaper reported that it would be the first known case in which the North Korean government has sold a key ingredient for manufacturing atomic weapons to another country, if the claims of American officials and European diplomats are true.

Although America has identified Pakistan as the likely source of uranium, the IAEA recently has found strong evidence that the uranium came from North Korea through investigating a member of the country’s secret nuclear supplier network set up by Abdul Qadeer Khank.

Jung-Ahn Kim credo@donga.com