N. KOREA "HELPING BURMA WITH WMD" (TOP STORY!)

Chosun Ilbo News, Seoul ^ | 25 June 2009 (59th anniversary of start of Korean War) | Chosun Ilbo, Seoul, S. Korea (English)

[AmericanInTokyo]

N.Korea 'Helping Burma with WMD'North Korea is helping Burma with the acquisition of so-called weapons of mass destruction, with the U.S. claiming that the North Korean ship Kangnam is headed for the Southeast Asian country.

The Burmese junta "has bought technologies on the open market that are potentially usable in a nuclear program, and North Korean arms companies involved in the nuclear trade have become active" in Burma, the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday said quoting speculation by U.S., Asian and UN officials.

"North Korea has used [Burmese] ports and airstrips to transfer arms and contraband to third countries, including Iran," the daily claimed.

It said several Burmese citizens, some of them expatriates, "have claimed direct knowledge of a nuclear weapons program, including a reactor under construction near Maymyo."

Quoting Yale University's Center for the Study of Globalization, the paper said relations between the two isolated dictatorships are getting closer to the point where North Korean technicians are working at the construction of underground tunnels connecting basement floors of buildings near the remote new Burmese capital of Naypyitaw.

The daily admitted U.S. and UN officials "acknowledge there is no 'smoking gun' to back fears of nuclear proliferation inside the Southeast Asian country." But it added U.S. and Asian diplomats "draw strong similarities between the military governments in Pyongyang and Naypyitaw and their efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction as deterrents against U.S. power."

It quotes Michael Green, a former senior official the U.S. National Security Council, as speculating that given "North Korea's nuclear trade to Syria, its attempts to sell Scuds to Myanmar, and its ongoing sales of conventional arms, there's reason to be worried about a WMD relationship." englishnews@chosun.com / Jun. 25, 2009 13:11 KST

[AmericanInTokyo]

OK, MR. PRESIDENT.

YOUR MOVE.

BLINK?

STAND UP PROUDLY AND MEAN WHAT WE MEAN?

The North Korean ship "Kang Nam" which you have taken the trouble of commanding our very able US Navy [ironically at one point the John McCain] to follow all over East Asia for the last week, will be docking and unloading in a port of Myanmar (Burma) at Thilawa probably in the next 24-48 hours in an effort to proliferate Weapons of Mass Destruction--that is unless they play a chasing game and stall for time, but they cannot run on empty fuel tanks forever. They will be forced to make port somewhere in Southeast Asia, or stand their ground and fight and perish (as they foolishly did against the Japanese Coast Guard several years ago and with the Inasa firing 184 rounds with 20mm machineguns, thus sending the criminal North Korean ship and it's crew to Davy John's Locker).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping!

[2ndDivisionVet]

Does this mean the Burmese are invited to our 4th of July shindigs? What do they like on their hot dogs?

[TigerLikesRooster]

There is also a report that Burma is helping N. Korea with uranium centrifuge technology. Burmese are said to have learned their centrifuge technology from Russia. They must be opening up the second source for the technology in addition to Iran.

[LeoWindhorse]

just what he worlds needs ; a WMD supplied Myanmar
I am sure the Karen will love that .

Sink the damn ship already , machine gun any survivors

Play hard ball , no mercy

[maquiladora]

Yeah I recall reading that WSJ article a couple of days ago.

[jhpigott]

ping

[Carry_Okie]

Mayhap the O-bot is hitting a BRIC wall.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Oh I am sure every single tinhorn dictatorship's representatives will be present, quaffing down hotdogs at US Embassies around the world on 4th of July, while the DPRK baptizes the Sea of Japan with a shitload of Scuds and Nodongs. Iranians will get hot dogs. Japan and South Korea will get hot dongs.

You If we had real FREEP power overseas, I would recommend simultaneous demonstrations against/in front of US embassies and consulates by conservative Americans abroad, in tandem with liberation movement representatives from the regimes and in exile, such as Iran moderates, anti-Chavez Venezuelans, North Korean defectors/refugees, etc. and we will cook and eat our own damned hotdogs on the sidewalks outside US missions, and of course the usual anti-Obama signs for the media.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping.

[Cindy]

Thread bump.

[lentulusgracchus]

Cute.

[Brad’s Gramma]

For tomorrow...

[A Navy Vet]

Sir, I find you to be THE most informed person on FR about Southeast Asian matters. I've read your posts for years and verified much of what you have claimed and foreseen.

Is the Nang Nam really getting close to port and unloading in Burma? Or is this your opinion?

If so, I believe this to be a huge test against the West, as NK's missles launches have been. I can almost understand us not shooting said missles down, but if we have positive intel that the Nang Nam is transporting illicit weaponry (possibly WMD's), that is worth our stopping.

What say you? I say we should ignore UN Security Council directives and board that ship. If it turns out there are no illicit weapons on board, we apologize. If there are, then we confiscate and dare NK to "destroy" the US as they did. Think Tridents!

Yes, I know, there are thousands of artillary installations pointed at Seoul. Bad stuff for everyone. If Il were to follow though on his recent rhetoric about disclaiming the ARMATICE then we are back at WAR!

Living in the area, what should we do?

BTW, what is Japan's popular opinion regarding re-militarizing? Is that a reality? Are you concerned? I'm not...they are a different people since our fight with them. I spent many days in port in Sasebo (sp) and others to realize they are a good people who simply want to be left alone in their pursuits.

[Bon mots]

[Proud_USA_Republican]

[A Navy Vet]

"Sink the damn ship already , machine gun any survivors. Play hard ball , no mercy."

That works for me. I simply don't care anymore. I don't care if the US blows them all to HELL! We just want to live in peace and enjoy our lives.

What part of "there are bad guys in this world" that the bleeding-hearts don't understand? I sincerely hope I don't live long enough to see our "career politicians" allow another 9/11 ten fold.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The Kang Nam 1 is indeed heading for Burma. However, ANOTHER North Korean ship they claim is carrying some noncontroversial cargo from India as we speak (hmmm, they say it is “rice”), is also heading for port(s) near the capital Yangon as well and will be docking shortly. Myanmar denies knowledge of the Kang Nam 1 coming over there.
The US Navy knows where the Kang Nam 1 is and what it is doing. They should know if they start tossing stuff overboard, but of course, much of the cargo load could be heavy and need profession dockside crane unloading. One theory I have is that the craft is rigged to blow to high hell. They will be asked to be boarded. They will be refused (natch). Then the US, perhaps with allies, will say they are coming aboard. They dont want their cargo on parade for the whole world to see, so the crew, in an effort to sink the whole damn thing AND commit mass suicide by the hardline communist party member crew (led by political officers no doubt), can all go out in a blast of glory. DPRK could claim that US did it, even though they pulled the pin themselves. It will be quite a show. Chances are “O” will let them go into Myanmar and unload, though, and the USA and the UN will be worldwide laughingstocks. I could be wrong and surprised, though. Thanks for the kudos.

[LeoWindhorse]

thank you sir and thanks for your service to our country .

[AmericanInTokyo]

All, Word out now on wires that Obama Administration is PLAYING DOWN THE NORTH KOREAN SHIP STORY.

This is EXACTLY what they did when North Korean launched a long range ICBM missile right over northern Japan on 5 April to hit in the Pacific--Japan was already on pins and needs and getting out the PAC-3s and Aegis ships. The Obama Administration came on a day or two later to "DOWNPLAY" the missile test aimed at Hawaii.

They are going to "DOWNPLAY" this damned Kang Nam thing until millions of people are suddenly and eventually blown up with a nuke. Will they "DOWNPLAY" THAT??? Speechless. Absolutely speechless.

I am private urging the Japanese to step in an seize these damn DPRK ships on the high seas on their own if they have to and can find a justification, despite Obama not crapping and getting off the pot with Kim Jong il, and accordingly putting their 120 million people in DIRECT DANGER due to this constant, sickening "DOWNPLAYING" and "APPEASEMENT".