U.S. asks Mubarak to come clean on N. Korea missile cooperation

WASHINGTON — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak came to Washington this week seeking upgraded strategic ties with the United States. But first he had some explaining to do.

The Bush administration and members of the U.S. Congress have this year for the first time addressed reports of Egypt-North Korea missile cooperation with Cairo. Mubarak this week sought to dismiss the reports as "rumors," Middle East Newsline reported.

It was the first time members of Congress publicly complained about joint missile development programs by Cairo and Pyongyang.

For years, reports released by the CIA failed to even mention Egypt's missile development.

U.S. officials said Egypt has acquired improved medium-range missiles from Pyongyang. The officials said the missiles are based on the Scud C and have a range of 500 kilometers.

Mubarak acknowledged that he was asked about the missile cooperation during his talks with U.S. officials and members of Congress. But the Egyptian president dismissed the reports by the CIA of such an effort with Pyongyang.

U.S. officials said the questions to Mubarak come amid efforts by the Egyptian leader for a formal strategic alliance with Washington. The officials said the Bush administration has determined that Egypt and the United States must first resolve key disputes with Cairo before deciding on Egypt's request.

"We are not dealing with North Korea," Mubarak told a luncheon on Wednesday. "Why are you making this propaganda against us? I cannot understand this. Anyway, I'm used to it. Before every visit, I hear so many rumors. But I don't care because I am sure of what I'm doing."

Mubarak said U.S. officials raised the issue during the visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell to Cairo in late February. The Egyptian president said the North Korean issue was raised during a discussion of weapons of mass destruction and missile development in the Middle East.

The assertion by the administration comes after years of playing down Egypt's missile cooperation with North Korea.

Mubarak ended four days of talks in Washington on late Wednesday.