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A South Korean exporter has been arrested on charges of selling strategic goods that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons to a Middle Eastern country. Prosecutors in Uijeongbu City said Thursday they and the National Intelligence Service arrested the man identified as Lee (45) on charges of smuggling 15 tons of potassium fluoride, whose export is restricted, on May 31 this year for US$27,500 to a country in the Middle East. Prosecutors said Lee forged documents to make it look as if he was exporting wood preservative. U.S. intelligence authorities suspect the buyer of activities related to nuclear weapons development. They did not identify the country for diplomatic reasons.
Lee last December attempted to ship 25 tons of potassium fluoride from China to the country and was caught by the NIS but not punished because he appeared not to realize how dangerous the substance is. Lee stored the chemical in a warehouse here and eventually sent it to the importer after repeated demands, prosecutors said.
Potassium fluoride is used to make a catalyst for compounds of uranium or Sarin gas, which was used in the Tokyo subway attack in March 1995. It is used to manufacture cleansers for metal surfaces and freely distributed here, but export requires approval from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. International organizations such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency are closely watching international trade of the substance. ¡°If it is confirmed that such strategic nuclear goods were exported to countries of nuclear concern and used for developing nuclear weapons, it badly hurts not only the exporter but also our nation¡¯s international credibility,¡± prosecutors said. The list of strategic goods under export ban is available on the website www.sec.go.kr.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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