N. Korea has produced two more nukes (Sankei reports)

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 10/18/03

[TigerLikesRooster]

/start my translation

N. Korea has produced two more nukes (Sankei reports)

U.S. government informed Japanese government that N. Korea produced two more nukes, Sankei Shimbun( a conservative Japanese daily) reported on Oct. 18(, 2003.)

"America has so far contended, 'N. Korea has one or two nukes'(Secretary Powell's position.) If N. Korea did produce two more nukes, 'she may now possess up to 4 nukes.'"(a Japanese government official), according to the newspaper.

The paper added that, if N. Korea accelerates the production of nukes, it will definitely have impact on 6-way talks for resolving N. Korean nuke issues.

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Brian S]

Well if there prattle is to be believed, they are prepared to "spend" one of those as a demo to the world that they "do work".

If they do "touch one off" as a demonstration...it will be an interesting day, indeed!

[gaijin]

Good work!

Sugoi nouryoku, desu ne...

[af_vet_1981]

First Strike !

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #3

I am not sure if N. Korea will have an opportunity to go all the way and have a nuke test. However, they will definitely ready themselves for that eventuality. When they make a move in public, they are busy woking on the next few moves in secret.

[stboz]

I can't help but wonder if the NK's will produce the "Yugo" of nuclear weapons....only good for killing yourself.

MMOOOOOOOOOBBBBB!!!!

[Billthedrill]

Many thanks for the translation. The North Koreans are still pushing the envelope, but much more tentatively now. The UN is conspicuous in its silence. The International Atomic Energy Commission is out to lunch somewhere and can't be bothered. A lot of people are waiting to see if Bush really intends to be a unilateral world policeman here, and a lot of his real detractors are going to be bitterly disappointed when he does what they are recommending and waits.

I think that he will do that because I think that he is not uncomfortable with a resurgent Japan, or at least he is less uncomfortable than the Chinese will be. What happens at the first test will be very interesting. I'd see an answering Japanese test within five years, all other things being equal. The Chinese reaction will be very interesting indeed. They'll be trying a balance between their desire to unsettle the U.S., their desire to keep Japan reactive, their desire to expand U.S. commercial markets, and their desire to forcibly reintegrate Taiwan. Tough balance.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

With NK's proven interest in weapons proliferation to our avowed enemies, we must not let this situation stand. Else we may find a NK WMD detonated near the Statue of Liberty in due time.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #8

I agree. Bush intends to solve this problem using the local political dynamic and America's economic leverage. The more defiant N. Korea becomes, the more will it turn up the political heat in E. Asia, forcing regional players to take care of the problem. Bush may appear to be drifting, losing control of the situation. However, that is not the case.

He is giving Japan the opportunity to be more assertive as she has always wished while pressuring China(and even Russia) to be an active partner in the regime-change of N. Korea. N.E. China is the most essential staging area in any kind of regime-change scenario.

My interest now is how much action we will see between now and the next year's presidential election. N. Korea could try to pressure Bush again by staging provocative public moves just as they did in a run-up to Iraq war. N. Korea may force the resolution while Bush tries to take a holding pattern until the election day.

[M Kehoe]

Msg to Kim Il: Test one or shut up.

Your's truely, M Kehoe.

Oh, btw Kim, don't be surprised if you lose your country too.

Signed:

5.56mm

[M Kehoe]

Addendum:

Assad! Syria! Are you paying attention? See the last post (11). Oh, and Bashir, just so you know, you could be next.

Sign: A concerned citizen.

5.56mm

[Centurion2000]

Well if there prattle is to be believed, they are prepared to "spend" one of those as a demo to the world that they "do work".

If they do "touch one off" as a demonstration...it will be an interesting day, indeed!

If they do it's gonna be a REALLY interesting day on FR and some parts of the world are going to glow.

[Southack]

I'm with you. If the North Koreans want to be taken seriously, then they have to perform a nuke test ala India and Pakistan.

Of course, conducting such a test will put them on a fast track such as was seen for those nations under Taliban and Baathist control in which said governments were summarily ousted from all power by the American military.

Which brings up the question: are any of the leaders in Iran, North Korea, and Syria smart enough to avoid the fate of their Taliban and Hussein cohorts?

[Timesink]

Why can't we get Israel to take out their reactors? </sarcasm ... I think>

[RonHolzwarth]

I guess the day is coming when entire countries and populations will have to be destroyed.

Because of their leaders.

I just hope OUR leaders will have the guts to do what will have to be done.

[American in Israel]

I think the day is fast approaching that some nations will be taken out because of their leaders. The only question is on which side of the fence. In a world of Russia, China, Korea and Islam, will it be the EU or the US that bears the brunt. It seems the EU is fence sitting using the cowards method to appease bullies.

Can the US survive a close shore hypersonic cruise missile attack with nukes?

The days of MAD are over, modern weapons have made first strike a functional reality. And our stocks of Stratigic Arms have been "limited".

[Pro-Bush]

[jerseygirl]

To maintain their image, they almost HAVE to demonstrate that their nuke works. I'm wondering what our response will be, other than condemnations.