The Gates of Hell

Via: FT.com

Japan’s decision to place the spread of nuclear weapons technologies on the agenda of the Group of Eight summit reflects, in significant part, Tokyo’s long- standing disquiet about developments in nearby North Korea.

The isolated dictatorship has missiles easily capable of reaching Japan, and tested a nuclear weapon in October 2006.

Since then, the US government has provided evidence suggesting North Korea helped Syria build a nuclear reactor that was destroyed in an Israeli raid last September, perhaps indicating that Pyongyang has been more active than hitherto believed in spreading nuclear technologies and know-how.

In spite of signs of deep divisions within the US government about policy on North Korea, this evidence has not so far derailed negotiations - in which the US participates in so-called six-party talks with North and South Korea, Japan, China and Russia - aimed at persuading Pyongyang to end its nuclear programme.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 9:44 pm and is filed under Japan, North Korea, Nuclear, Syria. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.