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Report: North Korea Admits It Has Nukes
Fox News ^ | 4/24/2003

Posted on 04/24/2003 11:46:07 AM PDT by absinthe

WASHINGTON — North Korea has told the United States that it possesses nuclear weapons, Bush administration sources said Thursday, according to published reports.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters reported that Pyongyang made the admission during its talks in Beijing with the U.S. and China.

A U.S. official told the Associated Press that North Korea (search) may conduct a test of its weapons, although there are no indications a test is imminent. He acknowledged that preparations for an underground test could be concealed.

According to the official, a North Korean nuclear detonation would deplete by half their estimated stockpile of two weapons.

"They said what we always knew -- that they do have weapons," another source told Reuters. "That doesn't shock us. We've been saying that. Now they said it."

"They never used the word testing. ... We're still translating but it's being overplayed a bit," he added.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: northkorea; nuclearweapons; nukes
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1 posted on 04/24/2003 11:46:07 AM PDT by absinthe
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To: absinthe
Prepare for the re-start of the liberal spin that we should have been attacking North Korea instead of poor, defenseless Iraq.
2 posted on 04/24/2003 11:47:43 AM PDT by dirtboy (Tagline under construction, fines doubled for speeding)
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To: absinthe
North Korea also admits that it has an attitude.
3 posted on 04/24/2003 11:48:38 AM PDT by mict42
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To: absinthe; HarryDunne
"...would deplete by half their estimated stockpile of two weapons."

ROFLMLO!

4 posted on 04/24/2003 11:49:46 AM PDT by Democratic_Machiavelli
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To: absinthe
But wait, didn't Jimmy Carter say.... oh never mind.
5 posted on 04/24/2003 11:53:38 AM PDT by UB355
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To: absinthe
That's all we need. The North Korean leader holding the world hostage for ...


One MILLION dollars!
6 posted on 04/24/2003 11:55:18 AM PDT by Dimensio
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To: absinthe
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 11, 2002 by a committee whose head called the decision a deliberate slap in the face for the current U.S. government over its policy on Iraq. Carter, a Democrat who was president from 1977 to 1981, was awarded the $1 million prize from a record field of 156 candidates for decades of work to resolve conflicts from the Middle East to North Korea, and from Haiti to Eritrea. (Reuters Graphic)

Way to Go Jimmy
7 posted on 04/24/2003 11:56:10 AM PDT by UB355
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To: Dimensio
with a bald head and without the glasses he would almost look like Dr. Evil
8 posted on 04/24/2003 11:59:08 AM PDT by widgysoft (< Woo and Yay! >)
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To: absinthe
http://truthout.com/docs_02/10.28B.carter.korea.htm


Engaging North Korea
By Jimmy Carter
New York Times | Op-Ed

Sunday, 27 October, 2002

ATLANTA -- In June 1994, the North Koreans had expelled inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency and were threatening to process spent fuel -- from a graphite-moderated nuclear reactor in Yongbyon -- into plutonium. It was clear that war might break out on the Korean peninsula. The United Nations Security Council was being urged by the United States to impose severe sanctions on North Korea. There was a general consensus, shared by American military experts, that the combined forces of South Korea and the United States could defeat North Korea with overwhelming power. But it was almost inevitable that severe damage would be done to Seoul and much of the fighting would take place in its streets. The American military commander in South Korea estimated that total casualties would exceed those of the Korean War.

It was the policy of the United States to reject any direct talks with North Korean leaders. Responding to a standing invitation from North Korean President Kim Il Sung and with the approval of President Bill Clinton, I went to Pyongyang and helped to secure an agreement that North Korea would cease its nuclear program at Yongbyon and permit I.A.E.A. inspectors to return to the site to assure that the spent fuel was not reprocessed. In return, the United States and our allies subsequently assured the North Koreans that there would be no nuclear threat to them, that a supply of fuel oil would be provided to replace the power lost by terminating the Yongbyon nuclear program and that two modern nuclear plants would also be provided, with their fuel supplies to be monitored by international inspectors.

Since then, the spent fuel at Yongbyon has continued to be monitored, but the two replacement nuclear plants have not been built and the United States has assumed what the North Koreans consider a belligerent attitude toward them. More seriously, Pyongyang has announced that it has acquired a source of enriched uranium and is developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons. If true, this is a gross violation of previous agreements and a threat to peace in the region.

It is not clear if the North Koreans are bluffing, actually have a nuclear program or have yet produced any nuclear explosives. It is clear that the world community cannot permit North Korea to develop a nuclear weapons capability.

South Korea and Japan are calling for continuing negotiations. China's position has not yet been clarified. The United States, in effect, faces a choice very similar to that in 1994: whether to move toward a military confrontation or accept North Korea's offer to resolve the nuclear problem based on the easing of tension between our two countries.

Kim Il Sung promised me that he would have full diplomatic discussions with Kim Young Sam, then president of South Korea, and arrangements were made for such a summit meeting. The North Korean leader died shortly thereafter. His son, Kim Jong Il, and President Kim Dae Jung of South Korea later arranged talks. Some progress has been made between the North Koreans and both Japan and South Korea in recent months, but similar efforts by President Clinton terminated with his administration.

What is needed on the Korean peninsula is an end to more than a half-century of "armistice" and the consummation of a comprehensive and permanent peace agreement. The success of strong diplomacy is still a possibility, with it being crucial that the United States play a constructive role. The framework for an agreement still exists and includes some elements that must be confirmed by mutual actions combined with unimpeded international inspections. First, North Korea should forgo any nuclear weapons program and the two Koreas should proceed with good-faith talks. The United States may then move toward normal relations with North Korea. The basic premises of the agreed framework of 1994 must be honored, with North Korea, Japan, South Korea, the United States and China cooperating. Finally, international tensions should be reduced through step-by-step demilitarization on the border between the two Koreas.

There is, of course, still the option of war instead of peace talks. It would be devastating and probably unnecessary.
9 posted on 04/24/2003 11:59:22 AM PDT by UB355
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To: absinthe
Hmmm so do the North Korean have nukes? Did they telegraph this a few days ago?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/898868/posts

TONY JONES: They certainly haven't done any testing of those, sir, how can they have 100 without anybody knowing?

KIM MYONG-CHOL: That is a North Korean technique. America CIA intelligence always failure, blunder. Pakistan did testing for North Korea. That was no problem.

10 posted on 04/24/2003 12:03:07 PM PDT by Aaron_A
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To: UB355
Before we get too into bashing peanut-boy, let us not forget that most of North Korea's plutonium development efforts occured in the 1980's. We failed to act when we had the chance, and instead began the rediculous negotiations under Bush Sr. that continued into Clinton's administration. Now we're sitting on our hands while with each passing day North Korea ratchets up its threats to launch a nuclear attack against us.

How foolish is this administration to believe that it can negotiate with Kim after it just correctly dealt with a regime that for all its faults, wasn't nearly as insane as North Korea? A regime that has killed millions and keeps hundreds of thousands in prison while it starves its population to feed its media.

We're going to have to confront this regime sooner or later, negotiations haven't worked for 20 years, they won't work now. Sure, Seoul will be destroyed, but better Seoul than Los Angeles or San Francisco.
11 posted on 04/24/2003 12:03:18 PM PDT by stimpyone
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To: absinthe
OK. I'll believe it when little Kimmy tests one.

5.56mm

12 posted on 04/24/2003 12:06:38 PM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Dimensio
My quote for this photo: "Dude...that was a hell of a dubby....got any chips?"
13 posted on 04/24/2003 12:07:58 PM PDT by RussianConservative
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To: UB355
Thanks Jimmy. All you did was push this mess forward by 8 years. Just another JC F-up.
14 posted on 04/24/2003 12:08:24 PM PDT by CdMGuy
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To: absinthe
"They said what we always knew -- that they do have weapons," another source told Reuters. "That doesn't shock us. We've been saying that. Now they said it."

The Bush admin. 'always knew' that N Korea was building nukes and yet they spent enormous resources, international goodwill and over 130 American lives to make up evidence and then invade the already-disarmed Iraq.

If this is not treason, then I don't know what is. Ineptitude maybe?

Note to all those who somehow 'know' that Iraq has WMD, because they watch cable all day - the military is asked that question every single day and, every single day they 'confirm' that they haven't found anything yet.

15 posted on 04/24/2003 12:08:32 PM PDT by A Vast RightWing Conspirator
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To: absinthe
North Korea : see China
16 posted on 04/24/2003 12:09:01 PM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: stimpyone
Seoul will be destroyed, but better Seoul than Los Angeles or San Francisco

I’m sure the South Koreans will be thrilled to hear this.

17 posted on 04/24/2003 12:14:30 PM PDT by Gerfang
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To: dirtboy
Prepare for the re-start of the liberal spin that we should have been attacking North Korea instead of poor, defenseless Iraq.

I don't think so. Since NK may well be next on the list, the Liberals will not risk supporting the concept. My prediction: they will print up two sets of bumper stickers:

"Don't attack Syria, attack North Korea, first!"
"Don't attack North Korea, attack Syria, first!"

They will wait for President Bush to move in a certain direction, and then bring out whichever bumpersticker criticizes that direction.

18 posted on 04/24/2003 12:34:20 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: Gerfang
Sugar coating reality won't make it go away. Do you think the citizens of Bagdadh were thrilled to hear that U.S. cruise missiles were on the way?
19 posted on 04/24/2003 12:34:28 PM PDT by stimpyone
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To: UB355
Someone oughta tell the peanut farmer that, considering the thread that this quote was taken from, it is likely that North Korea had nuclear weapons before President Bush took office.
TONY JONES: They certainly haven't done any testing of those, sir, how can they have 100 without anybody knowing?

KIM MYONG-CHOL: That is a North Korean technique. America CIA intelligence always failure, blunder. Pakistan did testing for North Korea. That was no problem.

For historical references, these tests took place on May 28, 1998 and May 30, 1998.
20 posted on 04/24/2003 12:46:37 PM PDT by steveegg (Iraq has just taken over the title of Master Surrender Artist from France.)
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