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U.S. Considers Canceling Beijing N.Korea Talks
Reuters ^ | 04-18-03

Posted on 04/18/2003 9:47:33 AM PDT by Brian S

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is considering canceling talks expected to be held in Beijing next week on ending North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program after Pyongyang said it had begun reprocessing spent fuel rods, a Bush administration official said on Friday. The senior official said the United States had no indication as yet that North Korea had begun reprocessing the spent fuel rods, which could allow it to make several nuclear weapons, but he said it was possible Pyongyang had done so and the United States would not yet know.

"Whether the talks go forward, that's not decided. There is active consideration to canceling them," said the official, who spoke on condition he not be identified. "It is an accurate statement as of the moment to say we don't know of any reprocessing but it's possible that it's begun and we just haven't determined it yet."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
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1 posted on 04/18/2003 9:47:33 AM PDT by Brian S
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To: Brian S
Let the Asians take care of it themselves.

We're tired of being extorted by the North Koreans.

2 posted on 04/18/2003 9:54:08 AM PDT by angkor
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To: angkor
The problem is that NK exports its arms to anyone who can pay, including terrorist states. We cannot sit and just let that happen.
3 posted on 04/18/2003 10:21:15 AM PDT by expatpat
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To: Brian S
NK cannot be permitted to have nuclear weapons or weapons grade material. The U.S. must take military action before that happens.
4 posted on 04/18/2003 10:37:09 AM PDT by Williams
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To: Williams
A sabot through the top of the reactor would punch a hole in the cooling jacket, pierce the reaction chamber and contine down into the ground beneath the reactor where it will remain as the system melts down on top of it. The entrance hole would give a little poof of radioactivity but would not lead to a Chernoble release. A Stealth plane could do this undetected.
5 posted on 04/18/2003 10:43:46 AM PDT by gcruse (The F word, N word, C word: We're well on our way to spelling 'France.')
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To: gcruse
Make it so
6 posted on 04/18/2003 10:59:29 AM PDT by spokeshave ( against dead wood (albore) Frogs & Rats)
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To: Williams
NK cannot be permitted to have nuclear weapons or weapons grade material. The U.S. must take military action before that happens.

NK is totally different from Iraq. A mountainous, hilly country with severe hot/cold weather that shares the border with one Red China.

Bush has to be patient and play his cards right. My instincts are that Bush will use the bully-pit against NK, hoping that crazed and starving NK citizens will rise up and rebel.

7 posted on 04/18/2003 11:03:36 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: gcruse
We could concievably take out any nuclear weapons production facility that we know about. The problem with North Korea is that their entire country is crisscrossed with underground bunkers, tunnels, and command complexes. They could very well have set up production well away from Yongbyon, so that they could continue their work even in the event that we take out the reactor. They have enough fuel rods now for several weapons, and those rods could be anywhere in the DPRK by now. I agree that the reactor is an important target, but destroying it may not end the nightmare.
8 posted on 04/18/2003 11:08:20 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Like water in a bucket.... calm but deadly...)
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To: Steel Wolf
Quite so. But as a target of opportunity and a pre-negotiation statement (or denial, as necessary) of our intentions, it would at least cut their nuclear supply line for the moment. As for expecting the populace to overthrow this govt, as someone suggested, the chances of that are zero. Iraqi would have been a cakewalk in comparison.
9 posted on 04/18/2003 11:19:14 AM PDT by gcruse (The F word, N word, C word: We're well on our way to spelling 'France.')
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To: gcruse
Cut the nuclear supply line - I agree, destroying the Yongbyon reactor will cripple their ability to produce more nuclear weapons material. In the long term, it would end their ability to make more than the several odd bombs that they already could make. I'd be all for destroying the reactor, as Pyongyangs options for retaliation are very limited and unappealing.

Overthrow the government - I'd agree that the civilians have close to no chance to overthrow the regime. A revolution would have to come from the military, or higher level party officials. People who are already powerful and could act on their own to decapitate the senior leadership.

10 posted on 04/18/2003 11:25:19 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (Like water in a bucket.... calm but deadly...)
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To: Brian S
Freedom from pussy-footin'

Thank God we have a real president

11 posted on 04/18/2003 11:28:28 AM PDT by Porterville (Screw the grammar, full posting ahead.)
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