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China Warns North Korean Nuclear Threat Is Rising; Iran Deal Could Mirror North Korean Case
(Wall Street Journal) Jeremy Page and Jay Solomon - China's top nuclear experts have increased their estimates of North Korea's nuclear weapons production well beyond most previous U.S. figures. North Korea may already have 20 warheads, as well as the capability of producing enough weapons-grade uranium to double its arsenal by next year. The Chinese estimates reflect growing concern in Beijing over North Korea's weapons program. An increase in North Korea's nuclear arsenal feeds international concern about proliferation from a country that, U.S. officials said, previously exported nuclear technology to Syria and missile components to Iran, Yemen and Egypt. Some Washington lawmakers said the pending White House deal with Iran could mirror the 1994 nuclear agreement the Clinton administration made with North Korea. The deal was intended to halt Pyongyang's nuclear weapons capabilities, but instead, they allege, provided diplomatic cover to expand them. North Korea tested its first nuclear device in 2006. "We saw how North Korea was able to game this whole process," said U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I wouldn't be surprised if Iran had its hands on the same playbook."