Clark denies NZ linked to North Korean defections

The Government has distanced itself from reports that New Zealand was involved in an undercover operation to help North Korean scientists defect to the United States.

The defections began last October after 11 countries agreed to provide "consular protection" to help move the defectors, the Weekend Australian newspaper reported.

Part of the scheme, codenamed Operation Weasel, involved the Pacific island of Nauru setting up embassies in Washington and Beijing to "provide assistance for certain refugees".

David Lewis, spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark, said yesterday she had never heard of US lawyer Philip Gagner, who the newspaper named as acting on behalf of New Zealand and the US in the affair.

"The Government has a blanket policy of not commenting on security issues, even to discount them," he said.

A Nauru Government minister has alleged an unidentified New Zealander, "a maverick red-haired Kiwi" living in Beijing, played a central role in Nauru.

In a briefing note allegedly prepared last January 29 to the late Nauruan President Bernard Dowiyigo, Mr Gagner wrote: "The US and the Government of New Zealand wanted Nauru to assist with ... a request for assistance with certain refugees related to certain countries which were believed to be developing weapons."

Another document claimed Helen Clark attended a CIA briefing on the Nauru plan last year.

Green Party foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke called on the Government to "thoroughly investigate" the matter and make the findings public.

The Weekend Australian report said up to 20 high-ranking North Koreans defected and the now-defunct operation was managed by Americans and New Zealanders operating at arm's length from their governments. Australia was not involved.

- NZPA