Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 25, 2008 Nisan 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:47 (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

U.S. decision / All eyes on North Korea By Yossi Melman Tags: CIA, North Korea, Israel  The decision by the U.S. administration to allow CIA experts to brief Congress Thursday on details of the Israel Air Force attack on Syria's nuclear facility is mainly connected to American talks with North Korea over that country's disarmament and full disclosure of the amount of plutonium it manufactured at its own facility at Yongbyon. There is no connection between the decision and the relationship between Israel and Syria, and may not even take into account the damage that publicly disclosing details of the incident might have on those relations. The North Korean consideration was also at the center of Israel's decision to impose a news blackout after the attack on September 6. Washington was concerned about releasing details of the attack - that North Korea had supplied the equipment, materials, know-how and technology to establish a nuclear reactor in Syria - would anger the regime in Pyong Yang and hurt negotiations toward its disarmament. Advertisement Today the U.S. is no longer afraid what effect the news will have, since North Korea now seems ready to move ahead in talks. According to reports from Seoul, South Korea's capital, North Korea is expected to announce its decision soon to completely disarm and to provide precise information on its nuclear plans, in exchange for aid from the U.S., Japan and South Korea, aid that may save its collapsing economy. According to U.S. intelligence assessment, North Korea produced about 50 kilograms of plutonium at its nuclear facility in Yongbyon. North Korea reported that it had manufactured 30 kilograms, and did not explain precisely what it had done even with this amount. Various reports North Korea provided on the amount of plutonium it produced revealed gaps of between six and 26 kilograms. The U.S. is also calling on North Korea to identify exactly what it transfered - technology, equipment, or know-how - to other countries, especially to Iran and Syria. Right after the reports appeared of the attack on the facility in Syria, North Korea denied it had cooperated with Damascus. It seems that the U.S. administration's decision to allow the CIA to make public the connections between Syria and North Korea after months of opposing the move - thus explaining why the IAF struck in Syria - was intended to give North Korea the last nudge to meet its obligations. However, U.S. confidence that today's revelations will not harm talks with North Korea may be misplaced, and Pyongyang might respond angrily and not play by the rules. Bookmark to del.icio.us   JDate wins the 'Oscars' The leading Jewish dating Web site is an official honoree of the Webby Awards. 'Worse than Nazi camp' A Libyan envoy to the UN says the situation in Gaza is worse than in concentration camps.   1.   You are phrasing it as fact 11:05  |  Rowan 24/04/08   2.   Everyone knows it`s true 19:02  |  Mac 24/04/08

Read & React White House: Syria must 'come clean' about nuclear facility Responses: 130 Ari Shavit: We can't fix Bush's mistakes with Carter's appeasement Responses: 82 Libya jibe on Gaza as Nazi camp sparks UN walkout by west Responses: 101 Iran warns Syria against ties with Israel, U.S. Responses: 71 More Headlines 01:00 Hamas set to agree on staged truce starting in Gaza Strip 02:25 U.S. official: No green light for IAF strike on Syria nuclear facility 21:43 Ex-envoy Indyk: Syria won't talk to Israel unless U.S. present 02:35 Abbas asks Bush to keep closer eye on settlement expansion 22:27 UN: Food aid to Gazans halted due to Israeli fuel cutoff 00:30 U.S. exhibit on 1936 Berlin Olympics echoes current debate 17:39 Jewish dating site JDate wins 'Oscars of the internet' honor 20:50 Golan leaders to Turkey: Push Syria talks without sacrificing Golan 22:41 Libyan UN envoy: Gaza situation worse than Nazi camps 16:56 Vandals seize, smash items from Holocaust display at N.Y. college 16:06 PM mulls bill urging settlers to leave West Bank voluntarily 23:12 Cluster bomb left from 2006 war wounds 4 children in S. Lebanon Previous Editions Select Day 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved