The Syria-North Korea nuclear connection has long been speculated on in the newspapers as well as discussed here at the ROK Drop in depth and now Congress reacts to a briefing that disclosed the evidence of what the North Koreans were really up to in Syria:

The Syrian nuclear reactor allegedly built with North Korean design help and destroyed last year by Israeli jets was within weeks or months of being functional, a top U.S. official said Thursday.

The facility was mostly completed but still needed significant testing before it could be declared operational, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

However, no uranium — needed to fuel a reactor — was evident at the site, a remote area of eastern Syria along the Euphrates River.

The Syrian reactor was similar in design to a North Korean reactor at Yongbyon that has in the past produced small amounts of plutonium, U.S. officials said. Plutonium is highly radioactive and can be used to make powerful nuclear weapons or radiological bombs. (…)

CIA Director Michael Hayden, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley briefed lawmakers, who were shown a video presentation of intelligence information that the administration contends establishes a strong link between North Korea’s nuclear program and the bombed Syrian site. It included still photographs that showed a strong resemblance between specific features of the plant and the one near Yongbyon. [Pamela Hess - AP]

It does make you wonder where the Syrians planned on acquiring their uranium for their reactor from? 

Here is what the reactor looked like before and after it was bombed:

Here is a closer image of the site before it was bombed:

Now compare the Syrian site to the current Yongbyon nuclear reactor in North Korea:

There is definitely some similarities between the two sites and we know that pictures were disclosed to Congress comparing to the two sites but there are even rumors that the Israelis provided the US with even video evidence to prove the Syrian-North Korean nuclear connection.  Very compelling stuff. 

However what I am wondering is that it is quite obvious that the Syrian reactor was far from being completed compared to Yongbyon so why did the Israelis make the decision to bomb the reactor when they did?  I tend to think that the Israelis were less concerned about bombing the reactor then sending a message to the Iranians.  The Iranians have fielded the same Russian air defense system that the Syrians have and the Israelis were able to successfully bomb the facility undetected. 

Anyway here are some initial reactions from Congress about the briefing that disclosed the extent of the Syrian and North Korean nuclear cooperation:

Hoekstra and Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, told reporters after the closed meeting that they were angry that the Bush administration had delayed briefing the full committee for eight months.

"It’s bad management and terrible public policy to go for eight months knowing this was out there and then drop this in our laps six hours before they go to the public," Hoekstra said.

President Bush’s failure to keep Congress informed has created friction that may imperil congressional support for Bush’s policies toward North Korea and Syria, he said.

"It totally breaks down any trust that you have between the administration and Congress," Hoekstra said. "I think it really jeopardizes any type of the agreement they may come up with" regarding North Korea.

I’m sure more details and reactions will be released over the next few days but as Robert Koehler reports, we can all rest easy because David Albright is now on the case.