Israel’s Peres accuses North Korea of smuggling arms and missiles to Iran

Peres says North Korea smuggling arms to Iran

JERUSALEM — Israeli President Shimon Peres is accusing North Korea of smuggling missiles to Iran.

Peres says North Korea has become a “duty free for long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.” He says some of the weaponry flows to Iran and from there to militants in Lebanon and Syria, though he provided no proof.

Israel considers Iran its greatest threat because of suspicions about its nuclear program. Those concerns have been compounded by Iran’s frequent threats to destroy Israel.

Peres stirred controversy recently by accusing Syria of smuggling Scud missiles to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Syria and Hezbollah have denied the accusation.

North Korea is believed to sell missiles, missile parts and other weapons to countries such as Iran, Syria and Myanmar.