Eye Witness Account of Nuclear Bomb by a Former N. Korean Nuke Technician, a Defector

Sankei Shimbun ^ | 06/26/08

[TigerLikesRooster]

See below for translation:

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

Eye Witness Account of Nuclear Bomb by a Former N. Korean Nuke Technician, a Defector

Satellite Photograph of the bomb assembly facility made public

2008.6.26 18:46

Topics of this news: The North Korean Nuclear Problem

On June 26, a Korean Peninsula affairs team at a think tank called the “Japanese policy research center”(Tokyo,) held a press conference at a friendship hall of Tokyo's Minato-ku-ji, announcing that a former N. Korean nuclear technician, now a defector, gave a clear testimony that he had seen a nuclear bomb in January, 2001.

According to Aiya Osamu, a journalist who made announcement, and other participants, the nuclear technician(specialist in (high) explosives) is Park Wan-chol (alias) who defected to S. Korea in 2005. In an interview conducted by experts last month, he testified that he witnessed the bomb in person at a building near Party Committee (building) of Yongbyun. There was one nuclear bomb placed in a room,

It is of cylindrical shape, about 1 meter in diameter and height, and electrical wires were wound around the top and the bottom part of it. He said, "At the site, there were up to 60 ignition devices. Detonation charge and plutonium were also inside. A neutron firing device with beryllium and others was located at the center. If you align them properly, you have a nuclear bomb." He also said, "N. Korea has already given up plutonium development, and changed the direction of their research."

According to Mr. Osamu, the facilities were built in 80's. He said, "The nuclear bomb cannot be mounted on a Rodong or other missiles due to its size. However, N. Korea has the expertise on (high) explosives, which is a key to miniaturization of nuclear bomb and could have made some advances on miniaturization."

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[allmost]

He couldn’t possibly be a money hungry liar, just sayin...

[stboz]

They have set us up the Bomb!!!

[Jet Jaguar]

According to Mr. Osamu, the facilities were built in 80’s. He said, “The nuclear bomb cannot be mounted on a Rodong or other missiles due to its size. However, N. Korea has the expertise on (high) explosives, which is a key to miniaturization of nuclear bomb and could have made some advances on miniaturization.”

[doc1019]

Looks like Frankie Pentangli (Michael Gazzo) from Godfather II! ;-)

[DBrow]

N. Korea has already given up plutonium development, and changed the direction of their research.”

This is why he’s talking, to underline this message.

His “sketch” is ludicrous, the press added the detail inside.

[P8triot1]

Which fuse do I light and how many yards do I have to get away?

[SevenofNine]

Is me or what does he look like Bobby Lee dad LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBaPI2AKu2g

[DBrow]

Lay on ground, light fuse, retire.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If this had happened under the CLINTON administration, this thread would be 100 posts long, would inspire Freeps outside the White House, and nearly 100% of Freepers would be in agreement that the administratrion naively sold us down the river all for appeasement and legacy.

But since it is Bush occupying the White House, we dare not say anything critical nor analytical, and this thread will go no more than 40 posts (on such a deadly serious issue), and meanwhile the Bushbot threads will be proclaiming his "brilliance" on this deal with the Norkies.

What is wrong with this picture.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Legacy at any cost, as far as N. Korea is concerned.:-)

[TheBattman]

and this thread will go no more than 40 posts (on such a deadly serious issue)

Well- up to about 13 or 14 now...

[Tamar1973]

His position on NK isn’t much different than Clinton’s, IMO! Both of them make me sick when it comes to dealing w/ NK. They have let the State Dept control this issue 100%, it seems to me.

[plenipotentiary]

No. One war at a time. Neutralise the NKorea, then take down Iran and Syria. They are the first strategic threats to the USA.

[DoughtyOne]

We’re trying to get it to forty, but it ain’t going to be easy. LMAO

Let’s declare victory in Iraq and Iran and...

Wow, peace at last. First time in years...

Bush, the administration that will be heralded for the next hundred years. Forget that Reagan guy. This is the real McCoy.

Upchucking as I type!

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Thanks for the story and translation. When will it hit US media? (not counting FR and conservative blogs) (/s)

Assuming he's telling the truth and is not a media hound, this implies NK is going for the “Little Boy”, “gun style” A-bomb, using U-235, although the shape seems to imply and implosion style explosion like “Fat Man”. I'm sure an implosion style would would with U-235, although I don't know the advantage of using a more complex ignition system with U-235.

The man saw one, which doesn't make a statement about how many others there may be. Nor does it say that these bombs, however many there may be, will work. I tend to think NK has made bombs, but has not successfully tested one. I also think it is significant that he admits they do not have a delivery vehicle.

This story merely confirms what our intelligence has said for over ten years—that NK has 5-10 nuclear bombs. The fact it exists doesn't cast aspersion on Pres. Bush's NK diplomacy per se—the actual “diplomacy” itself is quite enough for that.

Reviewing Pres Bush's NK policy over his tenure as President, I recall: 1) no negotiations without 5 party talks—he insisted upon including China, to put pressure on NK; 2) sanctions and no incentives; 3) declaring NK as part of the “axis of evil” with Iran and Iraq—spot on. 4) later negotiations included concessions and inducements as well as food aid.

#4 doesn't make much sense to me, unless our intelligence was saying that NK had already shut down nuclear power and had exported what it to Syria. Hence the hush up over the Israeli-Syria attack.

If NK is truly nuclear disarmed or on their way, then this is to his credit. If our intelligence is wrong (imagine that!) and this is just another NK shell game, it is a naive blunder.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for this translation.