Czechs say thwarted North Korean equipment deals

PRAGUE, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The Czech secret service (BIS) disrupted three attempts last year by North Korea to purchase special equipment needed for nuclear arms production, Czech media reported on Sunday.

"Last year our service halted three export deals headed for North Korea, in particular special machine tools, their components and spare parts," BIS spokesman Jan Subrt told the CTK news agency.

North Korea is said to have been looking to buy special machine tools that would enable it to produce smaller nuclear weapons.

Subrt said the equipment sought by North Korea could be used in the arms industry for the production of both conventional and nuclear weapons and their launchers.

After a series of missile tests in July, North Korea performed an underground test of what was believed to have been a small nuclear weapon on Oct. 9, triggering outrage around the globe.

That test prompted a United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea and calling on U.N. members to take steps, including "as necessary" the inspection of cargoes to and from North Korea to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

"The U.N. Security Council resolution from October explicitly bans export of dual-use machines to North Korea," Industry and Trade Ministry spokesman Tomas Bartovsky told public Czech Television.

Czech Television, quoting a BIS source, said that after the first attempt to buy the equipment failed, North Korea tried to make the purchase via a third country, but was thwarted again.

After the U.N. sanctions were announced, North Korea bowed to pressure and agreed to return to six-party talks that have been stalled for over a year. ((Reporting by Alan Crosby; editing by Myra MacDonald; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: NUCLEAR CZECH NORTH KOREA