YANGON: Myanmar denied it had been cooperating with North Korea on nuclear weapons technology, the first time it has commented on speculation that the two internationally ostracised states might be working together to build atomic weapons.
The denial follows a landmark visit just over a week ago by Hillary Clinton in the first trip by a US Secretary of State to the country in 55 years, setting the stage for rapprochement with Myanmar after decades of isolation from the West.
The weekly Pyi Myanmar quoted parliament speaker Thura Shwe Mann as telling reporters after he met Clinton last week that Myanmar did not have any cooperation with North Korea on nuclear technology.
It was the first time a top official has publicly commented on the issue.
“During my visit to North Korea as a general, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperating between the two armed forces. It was not on nuclear cooperation as is being alleged,” the weekly quoted the 64-year-old Shwe Mann as saying.
“We studied their air defence system, weapons factories, aircrafts and ships. Their armed forces are quite strong so we just agreed to cooperate with them if necessary,” said Shwe Mann, who had been number three in the former military government. (PTI)