Israel has accused North Korea of providing weapons of mass destruction to at least six countries in the Middle East, in violation of its arms control commitments.

Israel's delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency, David Danieli, said Saturday that Pyongyang has long been a source in the region of dangerous weapons, including ballistic missiles.  He told the United Nations body in Vienna that the weapons are supplied through black market and covert channels.

Danieli did not name the reputed countries of destination.

He made his remarks in a speech at a week-long conference on non-proliferation.  Delegates adopted a resolution stressing the need for the denuclearization of North Korea.   

Director General of the IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei waits for the start of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, 35-nation board meeting at Vienna's International Center, 22 Sep 2008

Last month, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said North Korea had expelled international inspectors from the plutonium processing plant in Yongbyon, and was preparing to restart the plant.

Danieli expressed concern that not enough attention is being paid to what he called "dark aspects" of North Korean behavior.  He said there is growing evidence that other states are emulating North Korea's "dangerous unlawful" practices.

A year ago, Israel bombed what it called a nuclear facility in Syria's remote desert site, al-Kibar.  The United States says it has evidence that North Korea helped Syria build a covert nuclear facility there.

 
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.