U.N. Aide: Korea Most Serious Nuke Threat

The U.N. atomic agency’s chief has called North Korea “the most serious threat” to nuclear proliferation while urging Iran to let inspectors investigate suspect nuclear facilities. Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Friday he was concerned about reports that North Korea is reprocessing fuel rods. “We are not there,” he said. “We would like to be there.” ElBaradei also pressed Iran for “substantial progress without delay” in clarifying aspects of its nuclear program and in signing an agreement that would let U.N. inspectors conduct in-depth and comprehensive checks of Tehran’s nuclear facilities. Though he said the Vienna-based IAEA has amassed results from its inspections of the Iranian facilities, he denied reports that experts determined that enriched uranium was found in the samples. He described the reports as “pure speculation at this stage.” Full Story