Press Releases 04~05

Clarification of Washington Post Story on Transfer of Nuclear Material from North Korea to Libya

March 22, 2005

There has been considerable discussion in the Korean press on the subject of the transfer of nuclear material from North Korea to Libya.

The following is Department of State guidance to clarify this issue.

The Washington Post story about nuclear material exported to Libya is inaccurate. The United States has not misled allies or anyone else about the matter. United States officials informed allies of the Intelligence Community's assessment of the most likely source of certain nuclear material that was transferred to Libya through the A. Q. Khan network.

Furthermore, the United States government has no evidence that the Government of Pakistan authorized the transfer.

Whether the intended recipient was the A.Q. Khan network or Libya is irrelevant to our proliferation concerns regarding North Korea. That nuclear material was transferred is a source of significant concern for the United States and other participants in the Six Party Talks.

While Secretary Rice was in Pakistan, she discussed a wide range of issues with Pakistani officials, including the A.Q. Khan network. Additionally, Pakistan is conducting its own investigation in the activities of the A.Q. Khan network and has taken steps to shut down the network. It is cooperating with us on this effort. We believe that Pakistan takes seriously its commitment to dismantle the A.Q. Khan network and ensure that Pakistan will not be a source of proliferation in the future.