Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Russia blocks scientists' departure

Wednesday 10 February 1993 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

MOSCOW (Reuter) - Itar-Tass news agency said yesterday that Russian authorities had stopped a group of nuclear weapons specialists from boarding a flight to North Korea to work on modernising Pyongyang's missiles. It quoted Valery Tretyakov, a Russian security official, as saying the group was prevented from boarding a flight from Moscow to North Korea last October. Russia had expelled two North Korean diplomats in connection with the incident.

Mr Tretyakov described how the scientists had been wooed. A man claiming he was authorised by Moscow approached officials in Miass, near Chelyabinsk, a year ago to ask whether employees would be interested in working in China or North Korea. 'The (Miass) construction department at that time was in quite a tough financial position, and (the) proposal met with interest from the defence workers,' Mr Tretyakov said. The first group of 10 went to North Korea in August.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in