Nuclear Parts Manufactured in Secret Factories

As the route on which Pakistan provided its nuclear weapon technology, which utilizes uranium condensing method, has been gradually revealed, and the result of nuclear inspection against Libya has been disclosed, the situation of the world-scale “Nuclear Black Market” is being disclosed slowly.

It includes the secret parts manufacturing facilities – As the result of inspection implemented by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), Libya has introduced all the technologies and parts related to nuclear weapon from other countries. It obtained the centrifugal technology from Pakistan to concentrate the uranium and received the parts from intermediate dealers in Asia and Europe.

The Washington Post has reported that some of the parts must have been manufactured in secret factories. IAEA has assumed that the secret factory might be located in Malaysia, commencing their inspection, because centrifugal appliances parts were seized while it was being transported from Malaysia on a German transport.

“It is planned in the first country, manufactured in second and third countries, transported to the fourth country, and transferred to the final destination,” remarked the secretary general of IAEA, adding, “The scale of the nuclear black market, which possesses offices all around the world, easily surpasses one’s imagination.”

Structures of the black market – IAEA confirms that the black markets are made of the government and civilian’s double structure. Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf has virtually consented that the uranium condensing technology in Libya and Iran were divulged from Dr. Abdul Kadir Khan’s laboratory group, who is renowned as the “Father of Pakistani Nuclear Weapon.”

In addition, the centrifugal-related parts are supplied by civilian merchandisers in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. “As occasion demands, ‘Real Time’ technology advisers are supplied too,” the chief of Institute For Science and International Security (ISIS), David Albright, disclosed.

Dr. Khan can also secure the necessary parts for the nuclear weapon from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, through the intermediate dealers, making use of their bogus companies established in the Middle East.

The U.S. administration still does not believe in the assertion of President Musharaf that the Pakistani government was not involved in the nuclear black market, New York Times reported, due to the close relationship among the Khan Laboratory, Pakistani military, and intelligence agencies. “(On the black marketeering of nuclear weapon) Governmental agencies are involved,” pointed out the secretary general of IAEA.

Blind point found in WMD quarantine barrier of the U.S. – For the sake of preventing the diffusion of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the United States has attacked Iraq preemptively. However, it has been known that Iraq did not possess any WMD from the first stage. “The international nuclear black market is much more urgent to treat than those of Iraq,” stated the New York Times, criticizing the policies of the Bush administration related to WMD.

Jin Lee leej@donga.com