US finds no radiation in initial NKorea air sample

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) Initial tests of air samples taken by US planes near North Korea found no evidence of radiation, but the United States is not ready to declare that Pyongyang did not detonate a nuclear device, a US government intelligence official said today.

''The initial test came back negative,'' the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters.

The official said further analysis was being conducted, but ''I doubt it will differ from the initial one.'' However, the official said US intelligence experts were not ready to state that the test conducted by the North Koreans earlier this week was nonnuclear or alternatively that it was a failed nuclear device.

REUTERS KD ND2050