If you are wondering why we haven’t heard anything from David Albright lately here is why:

North Korea is believed to have started a uranium enrichment program before the U.S. government raised the accusation in 2002 and has no intent to terminate it, even after years of multilateral negotiations, Seoul’s unification minister said Monday.

In a parliamentary hearing called after Pyongyang’s announcement on starting uranium enrichment, Hyun In-taek acknowledged conservative Grand National Party (GNP) lawmakers’ argument that North Korea’s nuclear programs are not just a negotiating tactic toward the United States, as claimed by liberals, but its ultimate goal.

“As the U.S. raised the accusation in 2002, I believe (the uranium enrichment program) had started before that. I believe it has been there for at least seven to eight years,” Hyun said, asked by Rep. Chung Ok-im of the GNP about how long the North has been running the uranium enrichment program.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party did not attend the hearing due to procedural disputes.  [Yonhap]