Posted on 10/18/2006 10:29:05 AM PDT by Quilla
North Korea has informed China that it is prepared to conduct "as many as three additional tests" following the first nuclear experiment Oct. 9, CNN television reported Wednesday.
Quoting U.S. intelligence analysts and officials, CNN and Fox News said U.S. spy satellites have detected activities which could be preparations for nuclear explosion tests at three North Korean sites.
CNN also said that latest U.S. intelligence show that North Korea's missile sites remain at a "very high state of readiness," and Pyongyang could use them "in the next several days."
On Tuesday, NBC News reported that the North Korean military has told China that it intends to conduct a "series of underground nuclear tests."
According to ABC News, meanwhile, a North Korean diplomat said Wednesday it would be "natural" for North Korea to conduct a second nuclear test.
In an interview with the U.S. television, Ri Gun, director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau, said, "Even if there's a nuclear test, that is natural."
Ri did not reveal the timing or the scale of the prospective nuclear test.
Asked if the United States should not be surprised by the second test, Ri reportedly said that was the case.
Ri added that there are "many nuclear weapons" in South Korea and Japan and that they are conducting new military exercises, the report said.
Ri also said North Korea declared last year it has nuclear weapons, and said Pyongyang proved through its nuclear test that it possesses nuclear weapons peacefully, according to the report.
Do they really have the materials to conduct three more tests? It sounds more like the kid who just learned how "funny" it is to pull a fire alarm.
Someone of Fox News early, early this morning speculated (akin to wishful thinking) that if North Korea continued to test their nukes, they would deplete all their material on hand.
It's possible that they have a small supply, which would account for the low-grade explosion the first time around. This does not mean that they don't have more than enough for a few powerful bombs, just that they are testing just enough to determine if the proper triggering takes place. N. Korea with just one nuclear bomb is too much for the world to tolerate...
Misdirection is a prime communist ploy
So the mentally ill boy with the bad hair is willing to give the finger to China?
North Korea probably doesn't have any more than 10 bombs, but its worth losing some of them to see if the design works / where to improve on, rather than have a full collection of complete duds.
Well, they were believed to possess enough for half a dozen. Make it 8. Now, how many of these would they be willing to expend in testing? 2-3, max.
Their known material, that is.
Frankly, our intelligence collection in North Korea is abysmal. We have rough guesses as to what their production and capabilities likely are, but we don't know precisely. Even if they test four, and only have four left, those aren't going to be used as tactical weapons. They're city killers.
Japan ping
We should put kimmy, saddam, noriega, castro, chavez, and yabba dabba doo (the guy from Iran) in a cell together and let them watch eachother die.
Oh, I missed the Syrian, "d!ck with ears".
By the time the world gets its act together the Roonery One will have plenty of material.
Or they are testing for another country, like Iran? and have their personnel and material there?
Man, that photo disgusts me every time I see it. One only has to look to the company the dems keep to know what they would love for America to be.
How many North Koreans starved so that disgusting blob could drink with the mini-tyrant?
Indeed, more information is always useful, and when details are so scant about this in the first place, the even more so.
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