Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin warned Wednesday that Iran-backed Islamic militants pose the greatest threat to world peace.

Winding up a three-day visit to Japan, Rabin told journalists at the Japan Press Club he believes North Korea is supplying Iran with nuclear and missile technology."I believe that the contribution of the Islamic fundamentalist movement all over the world poses the greatest threat to world peace," Rabin said before departing for South Korea. "You can't detach them from Iran.

"It is true that North Korea has supplied ground-to-ground missiles to Syria and Iran," Rabin said at Wednesday's press conference. "But it has also helped them to produce such missiles as well," warning such missiles could also reach Japan.

Japanese officials said Rabin told Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in Tuesday's talks that stalled negotiations between Israel and Syria and growing militancy in the area pose obstacles to the Middle East peace process.

The first Israeli prime minister to visit either Japan or South Korea, Rabin said the visit would boost ties and draw economic aid and investment to the Middle East to help its peace process.

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As a world economic giant, Rabin said Israel was appealing to Japan for aid for neighboring Palestinian autonomous territories and countries like Jordan that are integral to peace and security in the region.

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