Germany intercepts 30 tonnes of suspect chemicals bound for N Korea: press

BERLIN (AFP) May 18, 2003
The German government has intercepted a cargo of 30 tonnes of sodium cyanide, which can be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons, at the request of Washington which believes the shipment was bound for North Korea, according to the German weekly Der Spiegel.

The substance, commonly used in the treatment of metals, can also be in the manufacture of the deadly nerve gas Tabun (dimethylphosphoramido-cyanidate).

The cargo was officially being shipped by a German company to a warehouse in Singapore.

Last week Germany's intelligence service issued a warning about attempts by North Korea to procure banned materiel under cover of businesses based in China and Singapore, the weekly magazine said in its issue to hit newstands on Monday.

Last month the government intercepted a shipment of German-made aluminium tubes probably destined for use in North Korea's nuclear programme, according to the press here.

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