S.Korea's Roh dismisses N.Korea nuke plant report

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SEO288556.htm

SEOUL, July 21 (Reuters) - South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun dismissed a media report that North Korea has built a second, secret plant to make weapons-grade plutonium, saying such reports could harm the economy, the presidential office said on Monday.

"Groundless, unclear media reports may pour cold water on the national economy," Roh was quoted by vice presidential spokesman Kim Man-soo as saying.

Roh was referring to a New York Times report in which U.S. officials confirmed that sensors on North Korea's border had detected elevated levels of krypton 85, a gas emitted as spent fuel is converted into plutonium -- key to making atomic bombs.

The gas did not appear to be coming from the old Soviet-era nuclear plant at Yongbyon that has long been monitored, the report said.

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