North Korea in 'early phase of all-out confrontation with US'

Telegraph ^ | 06/13/09 | Peter Foster

[TigerLikesRooster]

North Korea in 'early phase of all-out confrontation with US'

North Korea has pledged to begin work "weaponising" plutonium to create another nuclear bomb as it delivered a furious response to a UN resolution ordering a fresh round of sanctions against the rogue Stalinist state.

By Peter Foster in Beijing

Published: 12:00PM BST 13 Jun 2009

The Yongbyon complex nuclear facility, some100 km (60 miles) north of Pyongyang, North Korea Photo: EPA The regime of the ailing dictator Kim Jong-il said it was now in the "early phase of all-out confrontation with the US" as it sought to raise tensions on the Korean Peninsular to dangerous new levels.

On Friday the Security Council ordered an almost-total arms embargo and a raft of strict financial sanctions against the North in punishment for its testing of a second nuclear device last month.

US fears third nuclear test in North KoreaIn a bellicose statement, Pyongyang described the sanctions as the "vile product" of US policy in the region, adding that it would also begin work enriching uranium as it sought to build up stocks of fissile material for its nuclear weapons programme.

The North is thought to have approximately 8,000 spent plutonium fuel rods which, if reprocessed, could yield 6-8kg of high-grade plutonium, or enough to make at least one more nuclear bomb.

The sanctions have also authorised UN member-states to stop and search North Korean vessels on the high seas if they suspect they are carrying banned nuclear or missile components, a measure that has drawn particular ire from Pyongyang.

North Korea replied that any attempt to blockade its ships would be regarded "as an act of war and met with a decisive military response", and promised to meet any confrontation with "all-out confrontation".

[TigerLikesRooster]

Dying Chia Head furiously chopping a tree called 'Obama,' hoping that it will be cut down before he dies.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Erik Latranyi]

North Korea knows it can now invade the South without US retaliation.

[swatbuznik]

Biden said Zero will be tested (and he will fail, which Biden didn’t say, but 0 will).

[RC2]

NKorea realizes the weakness of the President of the US. They are going to play this to the hilt and they will, most likely, get payed by us to stop their nuke program......as did Clinton. What the hell....it’s only our tax money.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Kim Jong il must be =============. An almost impossible task, but seems to be one of the most reasonable things left...the guy seems to have some kind of death wish, almost “international suicide by cop” if you ask me. HE is the source of ALL THIS TROUBLE.

[TigerLikesRooster]

That has been N. Korea's 50 year-old goal. That is why N. Korea is so obsessed with normalizing diplomatic relation with U.S.. To N. Koreans, that will be the green light by U.S. to invade S. Korea with impunity.

[prismsinc]

What was that old MTV show with the clay celebrity avatars? We need to make one of Kim Jong Il vs. Benito Hussein Obama. My money would be on the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

[Vinnie]

This is Bush’s fault.

He made a deal through Madeline Albright to supply food and other stuffs to N. Korea in return for them shelving their nuclear ambitions.

They snookered Bush.

Oh Wait, that was Clinton.

[JimSEA]

When will Obama be forced to use his ultimate weapons? Gasp! Is it time to send in Jimmy and Madeline? Al is waiting in the shadows if the two big guns don't work.

[HangnJudge]

If I remember correctly...
The USA and South Korea are
currently in a state of war with North Korea

Only an Armistice has been declared
But a state of War is still in place

North Korea has since unilaterally withdrawn from that armistice,
having announced its intent to do so on May 27, 2009

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5goGcm6AL4tHyTt3gp1PUV6rNu9fA

[Vermont Lt]

Technically speaking, they are still in a state of war. However, we never declared war. It was a police action. 50,000 of our guys died in three years policing that country.

This is what happens when you don’t finish the job. We finished in Germany and Japan. We havent finished a war since.

[hoosier hick]

Na-a-ah. A confrontation takes two OPPOSING parties...

hh

[TheDon]

[mkjessup]

Dying Chia Head furiously chopping a tree called 'Obama,' hoping that it will be cut down before he dies.

You know this makes it hard as Hell to know just what kind of outcome to hope for.

[mkjessup]

This is Bush’s fault.
He made a deal through Madeline Albright to supply food and other stuffs to N. Korea in return for them shelving their nuclear ambitions.
They snookered Bush.
Oh Wait, that was Clinton.

Wrong Vinnie, that was Clinton AND Bush. George W. Legacy decided that knocking out ONE leg of that 'Axis of Evil' was good enough for him, and left Iran -and- North Korea even stronger and closer to a nuclear capability than before he waltzed into the White House in January 2001.

Or were you under the mistaken impression that those vaunted 'Six Party Talks' pushed by GWB had solved this problem?

Guess again.

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

Yeah and Biden said "it's not going to be apparent that we are right." Plain as the plugs in your head and the nose on your face Joe.

And in the campaign he also said ”I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.” –Joe Biden, on Barack Obama - 2007

[diverteach]

It was "Celebrity Deathmatch"

[headstamp 2]

Well, Bush should talk to North Korea and........Oh wait.

[JasonC]

If they keep testing at this rate, they will blow all their plutonium on underground "fizzles" seeking attention - lol. Go ahead Chiapet, nobody is scared of you.