The exchange of artillery has understandably over-shadowed the other major development on the Korean peninsula - the revelation that the North Koreans had a far more sophisticated Uranium enrichment capability than previously believed. The revelation has sparked criticism inside Korea:
'â??Since 1998, working-level South Korean officials have been aware that North Korea got its hands on uranium enrichment equipment, but denied this knowledge in 2002 because of the political judgment of higher authorities,â? a senior government source said yesterday.
The George W. Bush administration accused Pyongyang in 2002 of operating a clandestine enriched uranium program in violation of its international commitments. But the accusation was challenged in the past by liberal South Korean officials.
â??When the United States accused the North of pursuing a highly enriched uranium (HEU) program in 2002, officials of the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations argued that it was a fabrication by the neoconservatives in Washington,â? Chung Jin-suk, President Leeâ??s senior political affairs secretary, said yesterday.
â??Those who sided with North Korea must come clean and apologize,â? he said.
'
There were several U.S. analysts who also were skeptical of the Bush administration's Uranium allegations.
(AP Photo)