ROK denies wrongdoing amid nuclear probe
AFP, Seoul
South Korea admitted to embarrassment but no wrongdoing yesterday as international inspectors probed reports of clandestine enrichment of uranium at a government-run research center. The government said it was fully cooperating with inspectors from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that is preparing to depart Saturday after concluding a week-long inspection. Revelations that scientists in South Korea had enagaged in clandestine uranium enrichment four years ago, albeit in microscopic quantities, emerged at a time when Seoul is playing a leading role in efforts to end North Korea's nuclear weapons drive. "It is embarrassing for us to face this issue at a time when the six-way talks are in a stalemate," an unnamed government official told reporters.
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