N.Korea threatened to transfer nukes

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- An annual U.S. intelligence report to Congress says North Korea threatened to transfer nuclear weapons to terrorists in 2005.

The 2006 arms proliferation intelligence report says North Korean officials told unnamed U.S. officials in 2005 they "could transfer nuclear weapons to terrorists if driven into a corner," The Washington Times reported Tuesday.

The report said inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency recovered 2 tons of uranium hexafluoride believed to have come from North Korea in Libyan centrifuges in 2004.

The report also disclosed what it called "key suppliers" of weapons and technology, citing China's arms relations with Pakistan and Russia, and Iranian and North Korean cooperation on ballistic missiles among areas of concerns.

Al-Qaida worked on chemical and biological weapons for use in Afghanistan and Iraq and boasted of its capabilities, "but actual attempts were few," the proliferation report said.

The report also said the U.S. intelligence community would "continue to monitor Syrian nuclear intentions with concern."