WASHINGTON, Mar 2 Centra! Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director James Woolsey says "a growing number” of nations are seeking ad vaoccd weapons, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the "missiles lo deliver them," Reports LISIS.

The proliferation of weapons of mass de Hl ruction has "serious and far-reaching impll cations for global and regional security and Bia bflity." Woolsey told Senate members of Ihc governmental affairs committee February 24

As international awareness grows, he noted, weapons seeking countries "are becoming *>ore clever 1n devising networks of front companies and suppliers to frustrate export controls and buy what would otherwise be prohibited to them."

Woolsey singled out North Korea as posing the gravest concern — both for its develop ment of weapons of mass destruction and as a key suppliers of weapons to Iran and Syria

Even if North Korea permits IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) access al two suspected nuclear related sites, hi said th. possibility exists that It could still develop ,. small nuclear weapons capability elsewhere ■ landestincly.

China Is another major "proliferation con cern. as an alternative supplier when west cm export controls make technology and weapons more difficult lo acquire," he ex plained.

Asked about a February 24 Washington I'out report that China may have revived and ex p-uidcd Its offensive germ weapons prolamine Ik responded that the Intelligence community has felt for some years that "this capability may . xlst In China"

Regarding China a relationship with Pakistan. Woolsey noted that Beijing has con sistently regarded a nuclear-armed Pakistan as

a crucial ally and a counter might lo India. .

The director also pointed out that both India and Pakistan, which have the capability io assemble components of a small number of nuclear weapons Tn a short period of lime, may pose the most probable prospect for fu ture i^se of weapons of mass destruction, in eluding nuclear weapons "

Woolsey said the Middle East Is an area of special proliferation concern for the in tell! genre community as well. since almost hall its nations haw, or are believed to be developing, w eapons of mass dent ruction

Inui despite its signature on the NII - Is Btn'opting to xqvlrv nuclear tcrhixilojty that b iiKonnlsleiH with pr-areful uses ol nuclear txrty. l>e said It will Uikc Iran about a decade to produce II* own nucteai weapons. Woolsey suggest'd unless "It receives critical foreign assistance for its development programme.

Iraq. whose weapons of mass destruction

programmes Were damaged during ihc Cull War, has struggled lo maintain elements ol its key programmes, hoping to out-wall" United Nations weapons Inspectors and rebuild tts weapons infrastructure.

As for Libya, he said, It Is working on a set ond chemical weapons producttoll facility even as it publicly proclaims it good Intentions ’

The CIA director also noted that the col lapse of the former Soviet Union "has raised new opportunities for determined nations to Wain access lo sensitive lchnolo|ty and material"

We are facing a sophisticated Hydra of sup pliers," he said. because for every Intercepted shipment" new suppliers seem to appear, will ing to manufacture, broker, sell, and transoort materials to any and all clients, no matter how dangerous or unsavory"