The Defense Ministry on Friday denied a report that it suspects North Korea is building a uranium-enrichment facility to produce nuclear bombs.

The daily Dong-A Ilbo said the ministry in a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting Thursday discussed reports saying centrifuges and other materials for a uranium plant were sent to the North.

A ministry official dismissed the allegations by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan and several foreign media, saying they only point to a worst-case scenario.

He said the government suspects the North is promoting a uranium-enrichment program but believes it has not built a facility to that end.