VIENNA, July 6: Recent intelligence reports accuse North Korea of secretly helping Iran develop its nuclear programme, raising fresh concerns about Pyongyang’s nuclear proliferation and Tehran’s atomic intentions.

The United States and the European Union fear Iran is using its nuclear energy programme as a front to develop nuclear weapons and have called on Iran to cease all sensitive atomic work. Tehran says its programme is peaceful and refuses to give up its sovereign right to a full atomic programme.

“In the late 1990s, cooperation began between the two countries, which focused on nuclear (research and development),” said an intelligence report obtained from a non-US diplomat.

“There has been a significant improvement in relations between Iran and North Korea over the past few months,” the report said.—Reuters