Japanese firms searched over N.Korean bio weapon link

TOKYO (Reuters) - Police raided two Tokyo trading firms on Friday on suspicion they sold North Korea a device that can be converted to produce biological weapons, Kyodo news agency said.

The move follows the search last week of another firm suspected of illegally exporting precision equipment that Japanese media said may have ended up being used in Libya's nuclear program.

The companies raided on Friday are suspected of exporting a freeze dryer, which can be used to cultivate bacteria, to the communist state via Taiwan in 2002 without government permission, Kyodo quoted investigation sources as saying.

The U.S. State Department said in a report in 2005 that North Korea could probably produce enough biological agents for military purposes.

A Japanese police official said authorities were conducting a search, but declined to elaborate on allegations or other details. The two trading firms could not be reached for comment.

To prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, companies are required to seek government approval to export dual-use instruments, or civilian devices that can also be used for military purposes.

An increasing number of Japanese firms have been investigated in recent years on suspicion of illegally exporting such machinery to North Korea.

Tokyo and Pyongyang are aiming to establish diplomatic ties, but talks have stalled mainly over what Japan sees as North Korea's failure to provide adequate information on Japanese nationals abducted by the North's agents in the past.

A group of ruling party lawmakers urged the government this week to impose economic sanctions on North Korea as a way to step up pressure on Pyongyang to make headway on the issue of the abduction victims, who were used to help train spies.