U.S. officials differ on N. Korea data

The Defense Intelligence Agency, which provides intelligence information to the U.S. Department of Defense, has pointed out that North Korea might have 10 facilities suspected of pursuing nuclear development.

However, as their has been a differing opinion on the interpretation of the intelligence, the U.S. State Department has not confronted North Korea with the suspicions, the New York Times reported Aug. 5.

The Times reported that after the agreement between the United States and North Korea to discontinue nuclear research at the Yongbyun facility, the DIA has been keeping track of about 10 other facilities, including one at Keumchangli as possibly pursuing nuclear research. The intelligence analysts at the DIA are particularly concerned with facilities suspected of storing parts and ingredients for nuclear weapons, the Times noted.

At the same time, it has been revealed that the State Department has questioned the accuracy of the intelligence. Doubts about DIA intelligence have been building since the on-site inspection of the Keumchangli failed to turn up any evidence of nuclear research last May. According to an official at the State Department, the inspection of the Keumchangli facility was one of tremendous embarrassment for the department.

It has been known that the State Department and the Department of Defense have had differing opinions on the North`s long-range missile development.

A foreign correspondent in Washington, D.C., said that while the DoD analysis states that the North`s Daepodong missile has a range that could reach Alaska, the State Department has questioned the DoD analysis. According to the State Department, a missile carrying a warhead that could be a military threat would be greatly limited by its weight and have a range hardly able to reach Alaska.