The disclosure by the United States that North Korea helped Syria build a nuclear reactor demands that the North give a full explanation about its suspected nuclear proliferation activities. As there is the possibility that the six-party talks will hold another round this month, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, China and Russia should do their utmost to have North Korea keep the promise it made last September.
Syria's Al Kibar reactor was destroyed in an air raid by Israel on Sept. 6, 2007. The U.S. disclosed partial information about the reactor, including images, in late April. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Michael Hayden said the reactor was "similar" in size and technology to the North's Yongbyon reactor and that its estimated plutonium production rate was about the same as the Yongbyon reactor — producing enough plutonium for one or two nuclear weapons a year.
In a round of the six-party talks Sept. 27-30, Pyongyang not only agreed to disable all its existing nuclear facilities and to make a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs by the end of 2007, but it also reaffirmed its commitment not to transfer nuclear materials, technology or knowhow.