IS NORTH KOREAN HELPING CHAVEZ
WITH HIS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS?

By Kenneth Rijock
Investigative Report
La Nueva Cuba
March 6, 2006

The best-kept secret today in Venezuelan government circles is the classified relationship between the Chavez government and the Democratic Peoples'
Republic of Korea, more commonly known as North Korea. Even former members of Chavez' "Bolivarian Elite" have remarked that this is their greatest fear for the future. With more than 4 tons of exploitable high-grade Uranium, and illicit assistance from a renegade Pakistani scientist, most authorities estimate that North Korea has covertly constructed between seven and twenty nuclear weapons, and all signs surely point to one thing: Chavez wants what Kim Jong-Il has.

There are some public manifestations of the relationship; last November, Yang Hyong Sop, Chairman of North Korea's Supreme Peoples' Assembly, was in Caracas, and the governments have signed an agreement of "cooperation on trade, " with the appearance of the North Korean Minister of trade. There is, oddly enough, a North Korea-Venezuela Friendship and Cultural Association. This is similar to the Lebanese-Venezuela Friendship Society; sponsored by the Venezuelan Embassy in Beirut, it also meets at a cultural center, in this case in Sidon, near the border with Israel. The membership of the Lebanese version consists of Lebanese and Palestinians who are members of known terrorist organizations. One wonders about the members of the Korean association, as North Korea is one of the most controlled societies on the face of the earth.

For the last four years, North Korean soldiers have been seen inside Venezuela, disguised in the uniforms of the Peoples' Republic of China, Communist China, at Fort Tiuna. Rumors persist of the presence of between 100 and 200 special operations troops, training Venezuelan special forces in asymmetrical warfare tactics. Also, North Korea has been seeking to expand
its missile exports, including the latest versions, believed to have intercontinental range, and cash-rich Venezuela is a logical customer. Are the troops training Bolivarians in missile deployment, outside the military chain of command ?

The central issue, though, is the purchase of nuclear technology from North Korea. We have previously disclosed that no less a figure than Guillermo Garcia Ponce has taken 8 trips to North Korea, for the sole purpose of purchasing nuclear technology. The sources of that information include Garcia's immediate family. What is the status of this nuclear project ? The Venezuelan Armed Forces, the FAV, continue to ignore these warning signs, and refuse to investigate what is obviously a serious threat to peace in the region.

Add to this the credible report that Venezuela and Iran have entered into an agreement whereby Iranian late-model Shehab intercontinental ballistic missiles will be shipped to Cuba via Venezuela, traveling inside oil tankers. Remember, Iran and Venezuela have greatly expanded their trade of late, and large shipments of material are currently scheduled to arrive, providing a perfect opportunity to hide the missiles inside legitimate trade. Does Venezuela really want to be responsible for a second Cuban missile crisis, as occurred in 1962, bringing the world to the brink of war ?

The bottom line is that the truth, and the current status, of the nuclear relationship between North Korea and Venezuela needs to see the light of day. Do we need an accidental nuclear detonation before people will wake
up ? Remember, Venezuelan mining engineers have long confirmed the viability of Uranium mining in Bolivar state. Shut down Chavez' nuclear dreams now, before it becomes a nightmare.