Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 09, 2008 Adar2 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il. (AP) Last update - 13:02 08/03/2008 North Korea's leader expresses hope for stronger friendship with Syria By The Associated Press Tags: Syria, nuclear, North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Il hopes for stronger friendship with Syria, the North's official news agency reported Saturday, amid lingering suspicions of a secret nuclear connection between the two countries. Kim expressed the hope in a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad on the anniversary of a 1963 coup that brought Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party to power, the North Korean Central News Agency reported. "I express my firm belief that the friendly cooperative relations between the two countries will be further expanded and strengthened in various areas," Kim said in the message. Advertisement Kim's second-in-command, Kim Yong Nam, sent a similar message to the Syrian president, KCNA said. North Korea has been suspected of helping Syria with a secret nuclear program. But Pyongyang has strongly denied the accusations, saying it has never spread its nuclear expertise beyond its borders. Syria has also denied receiving any North Korean nuclear help. In September 2007, media reports emerged that Israel Air Force missiles targeted a secret Syrian nuclear facility, built in cooperation with North Korea. Israel never confirmed the reports. The alleged nuclear link is believed to be a sticking point stalling international talks on the North's nuclear programs, along with the communist nation's suspected uranium enrichment program. Under last year's agreement with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, North Korea is required to give a full account of its nuclear programs, including whether it spread nuclear technology beyond its orders. Pyongyang claims it gave the nuclear declaration to the United States in November, but Washington says the North never produced a complete and correct declaration. North Korea and Syria established diplomatic relations in 1966. Related articles: Report: U.S. evidence shows N. Korea gave Syria nuclear aid Syria: There are no N. Korea-Syria nuclear facilities whatsoever N. Korea condemns Israel for invading Syrian airspace Report: IAF strike targeted partly finished nuclear reactor in Syria Bookmark to del.icio.us   From Pyongyang N. Korea expresses hope for stronger ties with Syria. Peres in Paris Pres. tells Le Figaro Israel won't act alone to halt Iran.   1.   What did poor Syrians do wrong to be in such company? 13:33  |  S 08/03/08   2.   terrorists like other terrorists to perform sexual acts- cant get 14:58  |  terorizein asskoran 08/03/08   3.   #1 Poor syrians want to destroy Israel with Nukes 19:00  |  Avram 08/03/08   4.   Losers stick together 19:21  |  Michael 08/03/08   5.   what should be done before its to late 19:27  |  anonimous 08/03/08   6.   to #1, Syrians deserves it 19:27  |  Michael 08/03/08   7.   This axis of evil.... 20:09  |  R 08/03/08   8.   These countrys are ruining the world 21:12  |  lior 08/03/08   9.   thanks number 2 i think we both do!!!1 22:08  |  lior 08/03/08   10.   THE AXIS OF EVIL AND NEW FRIENDS 22:15  |  anonimous 08/03/08   11.   kill this loathesome troll 00:44  |  frenz 09/03/08   12.   Anyone heard of the most recent North Korean outrage? 18:45  |  painful truths 09/03/08

Today Online Palestinians: Hamas, Hezbollah cooperated on Jerusalem attack Responses: 148 Shin Bet chief: Chances of fresh Intifada are low Responses: 54 Jewish Agency to start anti-terror drive in wake of J'lem attack Responses: 36 Gideon Levy: Mercaz Harav produced the rabbis who led the vilest form of Zionism Responses: 95 Editorial: Peace now, or eternal conflict later Responses: 32 Rosner's Domain Whose Jerusalem Is It, anyway? Poll: Should Abbas and Olmert continue their talks? An Israeli and a crocodile (WTR) The Israel Factor: What's wrong with Obama? Rosner's Mailbox: Stop focusing on Israel's favorability polls More Headlines 17:41 Shin Bet chief: Chances of fresh Intifada are low 18:03 PM okays 750 new settlement homes, says fits state policy 14:16 IDF soldier dies of wounds sustained in Gaza border ambush 17:55 Angry students cut short Tamir's visit to stricken J'lem yeshiva 18:50 FM: Gaza conditions make creation of Palestine a security threat 17:51 Report: Hamas leader says hundreds of militants trained in Iran, Syria 16:38 Study: Boston's intermarried 'as observant' as Reform Jews 17:52 Likud MK to propose ban on public mourning for terrorists 12:29 Palestinians: Hamas, Hezbollah cooperated on Jerusalem terror attack 14:28 Kuwaiti analyst: Best if Israel, not U.S., destroys Iranian nukes 13:01 For stricken yeshiva, trauma of terror attack likely to linger Previous Editions Select Day 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb

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