By Tim Butcher i Jerusalem
Israel has admitted for the first time that an air strike in Syria last year was aimed at a nuclear facility built with assistance from North Korea.
The Japanese daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun cited sources at the Japanese foreign ministry for its report of a meeting between Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of Israel, and Yasuo Fukuda, his Japanese opposite number.
Mr Olmert is reported to have admitted that Israel carried out the bombing last September and that the target was a nuclear-related facility built using technical assistance from Pyongyang.
There has been extensive speculation about the air attack last year, although the Israeli authorities have been uncharacteristically reticent about discussing the details.
Only after Turkey announced the discovery on its territory of a number of long-range fuel tanks jettisoned by Israeli warplanes did Israeli sources admit taking part in an operation in neighbouring Syria.
However, Israel never confirmed an air strike had taken place and there was no official word on the target.
According to the paper's sources, Mr Olmert told Mr Fukuda that the site was a nuclear-related facility under construction with advice and assistance from North Korean technicians.
The sources added that Mr Olmert said Israel remained concerned about nuclear proliferation by North Korea and was seeking greater information sharing with Tokyo on the issue.
Japanese officials reportedly had differing views on how to interpret Mr Olmert's statement.
"While we cannot confirm the facts, the fact that such an assertion was made at an official occasion such as a summit meeting is significant, making it highly credible," said one foreign ministry official.
Others questioned the accuracy of Mr Olmert's claims, as they painted Israel and its armed forces in a positive light.
 Original Source