Iran, North Korea sign technology agreement

TEHERAN (AP) - Iran and North Korea signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement on Saturday, bringing the two nations deeply at odds with the United States (US) closer together.

Iranian state TV did not provide further details on the document but said it will include setting up joint scientific and technological laboratories, exchange of scientific teams between the two countries and transfer of technology in the fields of information technology, energy, environment, agriculture and food.

Any technical accord between Pyongyang and Teheran is likely to raise suspicions in the West. The US has repeatedly accused North Korea of providing Iran with advanced missiles capable of targeting Western European capitals.

Last year, Iran denied a United Nations panel report saying that North Korea and Iran appear to have been regularly exchanging ballistic missiles, components and technology in violation of U.N. sanctions.