N. Korea Threatens to Test Nuclear Weapon

My Way News ^ | Jun 24, 5:02 PM (ET) | JOE McDONALD

[Jet Jaguar]

WASHINGTON (AP) - North Korea told the United States on Thursday that it would test a nuclear weapon unless Washington accepted Pyongyang's proposal for a freeze on its atomic program, a senior administration official said.

Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan spoke with Assistant Secretary of State James A. Kelly in a 2 1/2-hour private discussion in China, where a six-nation conference is being held on the long-running impasse over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

[freedomson]

How 'bout we test one of our own in North Korea.

Deal?

[thoughtomator]

I think we need to do some nuclear testing too. Some of the higher-yield bombs haven't been tested in a while, have they? I suggest a spot north of Seoul.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

Gee, maybe it's time we "tested" one too....Right over N. Korea. *wink*

[So Cal Rocket]

Hmmm.... couldn't we drop a 20 Megaton bomb on North Korea at the exact same time they do their Nuke Test? Nobody would be the wiser - it would just be a test gone horribly wrong.

[cripplecreek]

I think we shoud ignore their threat. If they actually test a nuke the world might get a clue.

[Steel Wolf]

Either pay us off in the hopes that we'll stop working on our nuclear weapons project, or we'll test one and blame you.

Sounds tempting, North Korea, but I'll pass. I have a funny feeling that you'll do what either way. We may be stuck with your WMD program, but that doesn't mean we have to help finance it.

[Rome2000]

U.S. Eases Sanctions Against North Korea

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By: Timothy C. Brightbill, John B. Reynolds, III

June 2000


On June 19, 2000, the United States formally lifted certain economic sanctions against North Korea. This action was taken in an effort to implement President Clinton’s plan to ease the North Korean sanctions, which the President announced on September 17, 1999. The changes in the embargo closely followed an historic summit meeting between North and South Korean leaders in Pyongyang.
President Clinton’s September 1999 announcement followed a series of discussions between the United States and North Korea regarding the North Korean nuclear threat, culminating in a September 1999 summit between the two countries in Berlin. During the Berlin talks, North Korea extended its moratorium on testing long-range missiles, including one with a rumored capability of striking Alaska or Hawaii. In an effort to ease tensions and move toward a more normal relationship between the two countries, President Clinton responded with his September 17th initiative to ease sanctions.

For the past nine months, as Clinton administration officials have worked to implement the U.S. promise to ease sanctions, North Korea has refrained from long-range missile testing. It has also made diplomatic overtures to South Korea. On June 13, 2000, North Korean and South Korean leaders met in Pyongyang, North Korea for an historic and unprecedented three-day summit, the first formal meeting between the heads of state in 50 years. At those meetings, the two leaders started the process of reconciliation and agreed to work toward a peaceful resolution of their countries’ differences.

[finnman69]

Just a thought, where would NK actually test a nuke? Underground?

[Bobby777]

except that air sampling will show where it came from ... plus I don't think we have anything near that big in the inventory ... but if they were to set up for hostile launch, then give them the Ohio treatment ... if we were the target I mean ...

[ken5050]

On a railroad car, parked in a train station..(G)

[RightWhale]

So, test it, who cares. You'll need a place to test it in case it works. Where would be a good place?

[andy58-in-nh]

Maybe it's time we offered to test one for them - on Pyongyang. There are two primary dangers to Freedom in our world - radical Islam and unreformed Communism. They are both challenging the Free World in increasingly stident tones. We have choices left - as do they. Five years from now that might not be true.

[Bobby777]

yes ... just like India and Pakistan ...

[Argus]

I think we should test our new thermonuclear hair gel on Kim Jong-Ill's "do".

[Jet Jaguar]

I like the way you think.

[Steel Wolf]

This...

The United States is demanding the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's weapons program.

and this...

During a closed plenary meeting on Thursday, North Korea demanded massive energy aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze,

are completely incompatible goals. There is no compromise available that will make this win/win for both sides. One side is going to have to cave in entirely.

The spoilers, of course, are our regional allies, who would still like nothing better than to appease North Korea until they sink into the ocean under the weight of their nuclear arsenel.

[adam_az]

Cool, then we

1) Know where their test facility is.

2) Know the size and type of their weapon thanks to seismographs.

[Rome2000]

[Dr. Marten]

Who really gives a flying freak if they test an atomic weapon? I for one do not!

The only thing it would achieve is global condemnation against Korea.