Though it has long sold its missile technology — to Syria, Iran, Pakistan and other customers — North Korea has never been known to export nuclear technology or material.
Mark Mazzetti and David Sanger, “Israeli Raid on Syria Fuels Debate on Weapons,” The New York Times, September 22, 2007.
Um, I guess I appreciate Mazzetti and Sanger being all restrained in pointing out how little evidence there is to support the claim that North Korea was assisting Syria with a clandestine nuclear program.
But doesn’t David Sanger feel even a little bit weird writing “North Korea has never been known to export nuclear technology or material …”? I mean, this is the same David Sanger who reported “Scientific tests have led American intelligence agencies and government scientists to conclude with near certainty that North Korea sold processed uranium to Libya …”
Oh, right, “near certainty” turned out be not so certain. Makes you wonder about this one, doesn’t it?
Anyway, the article is otherwise quite careful, joining WaPo’s Glenn Kessler and Robin Wright and FT’s Demetri Sevastopulo in starting to untangle this story.