WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - The United States is convinced that North Korea helped Syria build a secret nuclear reactor, the White House said on Thursday.

"We are convinced, based on a variety of information, that North Korea assisted Syria's covert nuclear activities," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement.

"We have good reason to believe that reactor, which was damaged beyond repair on Sept. 6 of last year, was not intended for peaceful purposes," she said.

Perino also said North Korean and Syrian nuclear cooperation underscored the need for "further steps" by the international community against Iran's nuclear activities. (Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria and Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Patricia Wilson)

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