A high-level diplomatic source on Monday said that the U.S. obtained the list of officials including nuclear engineers, who were involved in the supply of nuclear technology to Syria, through various intelligence networks. This persuaded the U.S. that the North Korea-Syrian nuclear connection did exist.

According to the source, it was chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill who gave the list to his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan during their latest nuclear talks. Kim denied knowing anything about it.

Japan’s Asahi Shimbun on Sunday reported Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, during a visit to Japan last month, told Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda that attacks by Israeli warplanes inside Syria in September last year targeted a suspected nuclear facility where North Korean agents were reportedly operating.

The daily quoted Olmert as telling Fukuda that Israeli air strikes in Syria last September attacked a facility being built with a blueprint and technicians provided by North Korea. North Korea denies any past or present involvement in nuclear development abroad.

(englishnews@chosun.com )