"We assess that the reactor was complete and startup could have begun at any time," a senior US intelligence official told reporters.

"The reactor was destroyed in an Israeli air strike early in the morning of September 6, 2007 as it was nearing completion, but before it had been operated and before it was charged with uranium fuel," the official said.

US intelligence officials also showed reporters a video that was presented earlier to US lawmakers as evidence of the North Korean-Syrian nuclear project.

The video outlines several key points:

"Syria was building a gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor that was nearing operational capability in August 2007.

"The reactor would have been capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons, was not configured to produce electricity and was ill-suited for research.

"The reactor was destroyed in early September 2007 before it was loaded with nuclear fuel or operated.

"We are convinced based on a variety of information that North Korea assisted Syria's covert nuclear activities both before and after the reactor was destroyed."

earlier related report
Key points of US charges on Syrian reactor
Following are key US assertions from a video presentation given by intelligence officials Thursday on charges that Syria was secretly building a reactor with North Korean help:

-- Syria was building a gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor that was nearly operational capability in August 2007.

-- The reactor was destroyed in early September 2007 before it was loaded with nuclear fuel or operated.

-- North Korea assisted Syria's covert nuclear activities, both before and after the reactor was destroyed. Only North Korea has built this type of reactor in the past 35 years.

-- Features of the facility and its location indicate Syrian attempts to maintain its secrecy.

-- Syria moved quickly to cover up its covert nuclear activities by demolishing and burying the reactor building and by removing incriminating equipment.

-- The presentation also traced what US intelligence said were the following nuclear connections between North Korea and Syria.

-- Senior North Koreans from the Yongbyon nuclear complex, made multiple visits to Syria before construction of the Al Kibar reactor began in 2001.

-- In 2002, North Korean officials were procuring equipment for an undisclosed site in Syria. North Korea that same year sought a gas-cooled reactor component believed to be intended for the Syrian site.

-- A North Korean nuclear organization and Syrian officials involved in the covert nuclear program reportedly were involved in a cargo transfer from North Korea to probably Al Kibar in 2006.

-- North Korean officials were located in the region of the reactor both early and late in 2007 ... North Korean advisors also probably assisted with damage assessment efforts after the reactor was destroyed.

-- A high level North Korean delegation traveled to Syria shortly after the reactor was destroyed, and met with officials associated with Syria's covert nuclear program.

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