U.S. Sees Greater North Korea Nuclear Threat

Wall Street Journal ^ | Dec. 3, 2010 | Jay Solomon

[La Enchiladita]

VIENNA—The Obama administration told the United Nations nuclear watchdog that North Korea likely has built more than one uranium-enrichment facility, significantly raising the proliferation threat posed by the secretive communist state.

U.S. and European officials are pressing the International Atomic Energy Agency to better scrutinize Pyongyang's potential role in sharing its nuclear technologies with third countries. But the U.N. agency's ability to monitor Pyongyang is limited: North Korea kicked out the IAEA's inspectors in 2009.

The IAEA already is investigating evidence that North Korea transferred a nearly operational nuclear reactor to Syria, which Israeli jets subsequently destroyed in 2007. U.S. and U.N. officials now worry Pyongyang could begin exporting its advanced centrifuge equipment to its military allies in Iran and Myanmar.

[La Enchiladita]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold a key strategy session on Monday in Washington with her Japanese and South Korean counterparts. The meeting follows extensive war games that the U.S. and South Korean militaries conducted over the past week in the waters off the Korean peninsula.

[GeronL]

haven’t we known this for a while?

[Cisco Nix]

“North Korea likely has built more than one uranium-enrichment facility”

What, this is news?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Sure Condi Rice and Christopher Hill, under instructions from *W*, were told to look the other way, and handed the massive headache off to Obama, who will be even WORSE if you can imagine. And of course, *W* inherited a travesty from Clinton.

One big happy family.

If this erupts in war and DPRK moves with capabilities facilitated all during the time that jerks sat at rectangular tables in Beijing talking uselessly for hours, my guess is some pretty high level American officials and former American officials should be subjected to treason charges, if an American lives are taken in result.

Note how Bill Richardson, Madeline Albright, Chris Hill, Jack Pritchard, Wendy Sherman, George W. Bush, Condi Rice, are all very silent these days.

Only good guy to speak up and tear them all a new hole over this whole building ridiculousness of North Korea, is Amb. John Bolton.

[y6162]

Gee..sure is a good time enact the Kenyan’s START unilateral disarmament pact and gut our missile defense program.

[bareford101]

likely obamanation is the only one who didn’t or pretends like he didn’t know this.... the liar in chief.

[ColdOne]

Like he really cares?

[JimSEA]

Just what I need living in Chiang Mai part time, nuclear weapons 100 miles away in a hostile Burma. Burma has long had claims on Northern Thailand.

[La Enchiladita]

I think there was new news last week about uranium-enrichment activities.

Also, I had not known about the possible export of a reactor to Myanmar.

[La Enchiladita]

Yes, I do notice silence from Condi Rice et al, but had interpreted it as prudence. With a POTUS as weak as Obama, they need to avoid causing him and his policy to appear even weaker. I can’t think of anything much more dangerous than weakness in high position and that is what we are dealing with.

If Bolton intervenes, it needs to be done in ultra-diplomatic fashion.

And, as another FReeper pointed out, South Korea must take the lead in responding to the No. Korea aggression.

[NavyCanDo]

For those with NETFLIX instant streaming, last night I saw an excellent documentary giving an inside view of what it is like in North Korea. The oppressive dictatorship of Kim Jong-il makes Hitler look like just a tough schoolmarm.

National Geographic - Inside North Korea

“Join National Geographic’s Lisa Ling as she captures a rare look inside North Korea - something few Americans have ever been able to do. Posing as an undercover medical coordinator and closely guarded throughout her trip, Lisa moves inside the most isolated nation in the world, encountering a society completely dominated by government and dictatorship. Glimpse life inside North Korea as you’ve never seen before with personal accounts and powerful footage. Witness first-hand efforts by humanitarians and the challenges they face from the rogue regime.”

[La Enchiladita]

I wonder why they don’t show this on PBS....

.................

.......

[CharlesMartelsGhost]

[StormEye]

"The IAEA already is investigating evidence that North Korea transferred a nearly operational nuclear reactor to Syria, ... '

I feel safer already.

[SunkenCiv]

Oh pshaw. ;’)

Thanks La Enchiladita.

[GeronL]

No one expects..... Myanmar!!

[AmericanInTokyo]

I’ll buy portions of that. Fair enough.

[BenLurkin]

[mojito]

"It is likely that North Korea had been pursuing an enrichment capability long before the April 2009 date it now claims," Mr. Davies said. "If so, there is a clear likelihood that DPRK has built other uranium enrichment-related facilities in its territory...."

"Our position remains the same. We will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapon state," Mr. Davies said.

Someone needs to tell Mr. Davies that this particular cat was let out of the bag more than twelve years ago. Also, since he doesn't really mean what he says, he should can his bogus bluster and just shut is suavely diplomatic pie hole.

[dfwgator]

"Our position remains the same. We will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapon state," Mr. Davies said.

Kim Jong Il: Hans Brix? Oh no! Oh, herro. Great to see you again, Hans!
Hans Blix: Mr. Il, I was supposed to be allowed to inspect your palace today, but your guards won't let me enter certain areas.
Kim Jong Il: Hans, Hans, Hans! We've been frew this a dozen times. I don't have any weapons of mass destwuction, OK Hans?
Hans Blix: Then let me look around, so I can ease the UN's collective mind. I'm sorry, but the UN must be firm with you. Let me in, or else.
Kim Jong Il: Or else what?
Hans Blix: Or else we will be very angry with you... and we will write you a letter, telling you how angry we are.
Kim Jong Il: OK, Hans. I'll show you. Stand to your reft.
Hans Blix: [Moves to the left]
Kim Jong Il: A rittle more.
Hans Blix: [Moves to the left again]
Kim Jong Il: Good.