Israel worried North Korea may help Iran
Israeli officials said Tuesday they were concerned that North Korea's reported nuclear test would set a dangerous precedent and encourage Iran to press ahead with its nuclear program.
Israel also feared North Korea would transfer materials and technology for the development of nuclear weapons to Iran, officials said.
"Nuclear capability in the hands of irresponsible undemocratic regimes is a world problem," said Miri Eisin, spokeswoman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"We should remind ourselves that the North Koreans have already been suppliers of launching platforms which could reach Europe and certainly Israel. As such, they have already shown their willingness to be suppliers to Iran."
North Korea has close defense ties with Iran, and Pyongyang helped Tehran develop its Shihab long-range surface-to-surface missiles that are capable of reaching Israel.
North Korea announced Monday that it tested a nuclear weapon, which would make it the ninth nation known or generally thought to possess such arms. Israel, though it has never acknowledged having nuclear weapons, is widely believed to possess them.
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