U.S.: North Korea uranium disclosure is "not a crisis"

State department says revelation of an enrichment facility might be a publicity stunt

Published November 22, 2010 7:10PM (EST)

The State Department says North Korea's claim of a new uranium enrichment facility is a matter of concern but "not a crisis."

Department spokesman P.J. Crowley says if the claim is true it would violate Pyongyang's obligation to stop pursuing nuclear weapons.

Crowley said Monday that U.S. officials are not yet certain of the implications of the newly disclosed facility. He said the Obama administration would take its time to assess available information, including the report of an American nuclear scientist who recently visited the site.

Crowley said the revelation may be what he called a "publicity stunt." He also said it adds one more concern to a long list of U.S. concerns about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.


By Matthew Lee

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