OPINION:
Israel is concerned that Iran may still be involved in North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. In the past, intelligence suggested North Korea transferred nuclear weapons technology to Iran as well as Syria.
Israeli Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz said this week, “The test reminds us all that the most important mission is to prevent a similar thing from taking place in Iran: a nuclear agreement first and nuclear weapons later. Israel and the U.S. should increase intelligence sharing in order to ensure that Iran is not breaching its nuclear agreement through involvement in North Korea’s nuclear project,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
In July of 2015, world powers signed a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran that will govern its nuclear weapons program for a decade or longer. Many analysts, however, fear that Iran will eventually acquire nuclear weapons and threaten its perceived enemies.
In 1994, then-President Bill Clinton signed a similar deal with North Korea. He said at the time, “North Korea will freeze and then dismantle its nuclear program. South Korea and our other allies will be better protected. The entire world will be safer as we slow the spread of nuclear weapons.”
Mr. Clinton said that the “United States and international inspectors will carefully monitor North Korea to make sure it keeps its commitments. Only as it does so will North Korea fully join the community of nations.”
Twelve years later, North Korea detonated its first underground nuclear explosion.
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