SEOUL (Agencies)
North Korea's second most senior figure met a Syrian delegation Saturday, state media (KCNA) reported, amid allegations the communist nation is helping Damascus develop a nuclear facility.
Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament and titular head of state, had "a friendly talk" with Saaeed Eleia Dawood.
Dawood is director of the organizational department of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party.
The Syrian official expressed satisfaction that the "friendly and cooperative ties" between the two countries "are growing stronger under the deep care of" Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, KCNA said
Some U.S. media reports have said an Israeli air strike in Syria earlier this month may have targeted a joint nuclear project.
Andrew Semmel, acting U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear nonproliferation policy, said last week that North Koreans were in Syria, and that Syria may have had contacts with "secret suppliers" to obtain nuclear equipment.
There has been fierce speculation over the Israeli air raid, while Damascus has denounced what it called U.S. "lies" that it was receiving nuclear material from North Korea.
Pyongyang has also angrily denied helping Syria, insisting it was sticking to an earlier pledge not to allow the transfer of nuclear materials.
In a landmark six-nation deal brokered in February, North Korea agreed to dismantle all its nuclear facilities and programs in exchange for diplomatic concessions, energy and other aid. |
