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North Korea continues to conceal nuclear weapons and fissile material, U.S. officials said.
The Bush administration has obtained information indicating that North Korea possesses at least three nuclear bombs as well as an undetermined amount of fissile material. The officials said the material is being stored in underground bunkers kept off-limits to both the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
North Korea, the officials said, has refused to allow the IAEA to conduct a full inspection of the nuclear facility at Yongbyon north of Pyongyang. The Kim Jong Il regime may have used Yongbyon and other facilities for tests on the weaponization of long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States.
The officials said the administration has decided not to certify that North Korea has complied with a 1994 accord with the Clinton administration in which Pyongyang pledged to suspend its nuclear weapons program. The agreement led to a U.S. promise to supply North Korea with two nuclear power reactors in a $4.6 billion project.
The Bush administration also wants to link the nuclear power project to an end to North Korean missile exports. Pyongyang is regarded as the leading missile exporter to the Middle East, including such clients as Egypt, Iran, Libya and Syria.
Meanwhile, Iran is preparing to accept delivery of North Korean gunboats, which will be converted into guided-missile naval vessels.
U.S. intelligence sources said the boats could arrive on an Iranian freighter within the next week. They said the United States is monitoring the shipment of the gunboats from North Korea to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
The Washington Times reported that the Iranian freighter, Meead, obtained the gunboats from the North Korean port of Nampo after stopping in the Chinese port of Tianjin in late February.
North Korea manufactures several models of fast-attack vessels. They include the SO-1 and the Sinpo.
The North Korean shipment to Iran is said to be at least the second this year from East Asia to Tehran. In January, China delivered naval air defense missiles to Iran. The missiles were said to have a range of nearly 13 kilometers.
The U.S. sources said Iran has been bolstering its navy to counter the prospect of an expanded U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf. The sources said that despite the war in Afghanistan, which borders Iran, Tehran still has the power to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf.
Tehran is believed to have deployed Chinese guided-missile patrol boats equipped with anti-ship missiles as well as two Russian Kilo-class diesel submarines. Iran also has produced mini-submarines for reconnaissance and sabotage missions.
Over the weekend, Iranian military commanders again warned that Tehran would confront any U.S. attack. The commanders said Iran has developed a range of unspecified weapons.
“We are not for war, but we will stand up against the enemy should the need arise,” Iranian naval chief Brig. Gen. Morteza Saffari told senior commanders.
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