U.S. worried by N. Korea chemical import
From National Security Correspondent David Ensor
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. officials have described as "worrisome" a large shipment from China to North Korea of chemicals that could be used to make nuclear weapons fuel.
North Korean agents bought about 20 tonnes of tributyl phosphate (TBP) a chemical that can be used to process material for nuclear weapons from spent nuclear fuel, according to officials.
The shipment was first reported by The Washington Times.
TBP is used to produce paint and plastics, but it can also be used to produce plutonium from spent reactor fuel.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Monday for North Korea to reconsider its decision to resume its nuclear fuel program and to reopen nuclear power facilities it had agreed to shut.
Powell called North Korea's move, announced December 12, "a regrettable step backward."
North Korea has said it plans to restart plutonium-based nuclear reactors that also could be used for a weapons program, but at the same time called for negotiations to make certain there is not a crisis on the Korean peninsula.
