White House downplays North Korea nuclear report

WASHINGTON (AFP) Apr 28, 2004
The White House on Wednesday downplayed but did not deny a report that US intelligence is concluding that North Korea may have at least eight nuclear weapons, not two as previously estimated.

"I'm not aware of any new estimate from the intelligence community," spokesman Scott McClellan said of the Washington Post account, which cited officials preparing a report on the matter to be completed within a month.

McClellan did not address whether a new estimate was forthcoming on Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, which Washington hopes to defuse through talks grouping North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan, and the United States.

The Post said the revised figure was based on a detailed analysis of plutonium products found on clothing worn by an unofficial US delegation that was allowed to visit North Korean nuclear facilities several months ago.

Up to now, the United States estimated that Pyongyang had developed enough weapons grade material at the nuclear facilities it reopened last year to make possibly two nuclear devices.

WAR.WIRE