Korea: Russian Official Predicts 'Catastrophic' Events Within Days

smh.com.au ^ | April 24 2003 | AFP

[Destro]

Russian official predicts 'catastrophic' events

April 24 2003

A top Russian Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying yesterday in Tokyo that a "catastrophic" development of events in the US-North Korean nuclear standoff was imminent and could occur within the next day.

"It is probable that, as early as tomorrow, there will be a catastrophic development of events," Itar-Tass quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov as saying.

He added that the standoff had "reached an extreme stage" but did not give a more detailed explanation about his warning.

Losyukov holds the Asian affairs brief in the ministry.

His comments came as US Asia envoy James Kelly had a first round of low-key nuclear talks in Beijing with "axis of evil" foe North Korea.

Losyukov said that Russia would welcome progress in Kelly's negotiations with Li Gun, the North Korean Foreign Ministry's deputy director for US affairs and a former senior member of his country's delegation to the United Nations.

"If the danger is defused, we would only welcome this," Losyukov said.

China was represented by Fu Ying, director of the Foreign Ministry's department of Asian affairs, but Russia - which had sought to play a role in mediating the Washington-Pyongyang standoff - was excluded.

Losyukov said Russia did not feel snubbed by the decision.

Russia "does not feel left out or hurt," said Losyukov, whose comments came after a meeting with top Japanese Foreign Ministry officials.

Moscow had pushed for direct talks between North Korea and the United States and argued against Washington's demands for a multilateral format for such negotiations.

But Beijing managed to broker a compromise deal that would see the two sides hold talks with China as an active third party.

Those may be later joined by South Korea and Japan -- but Russia's own role in the negotiations seems uncertain.

President Vladimir Putin has enjoyed privileged relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. He has met the reclusive Stalinist three times over the past two years and Moscow diplomats have insisted that they were still hard at work in trying to resolve the nuclear standoff.

Moscow "is doing all it can in the diplomatic arena," Losyukov was quoted as saying. He gave no further details.

AFP

[xJones]

... but maybe Kim Jong-il is getting crazier and more delusional in his old age.

I suppose we could do some guessing. Kim never had an "average" childhood to say the least, he's been a priviledged little twerp all his life. And he received a major shock when Saddam, one part of the "axis of evil" was overthrown. The North Korean peasants are starving, all that crap about a Marxist paradise is ripe to be exposed. A cornered fat rat can be desperate, but Japan isn't in danger. That would bring down the father of all battles on top of Kim's partially bald head.

[Mr. Bird]

Kim never had an "average" childhood to say the least,

Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons....pretty standard stuff.

[Mr. Bird]

In the spring he'd make meat helmets....

[Paul Ross]

It may not just be talk this time. If the Russians think something bad will happen. They also appeared to have some idea about 9-11 a full month or more before it happened. They were trying to position themselves for a US market crash.

[Destro]

That's what I was thinking too.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Good. I hate longs waits.

[ewing]

Cripes, I hate nebulous/ completely non specific Russian intel..

[LisaAnne]

but maybe Kim Jong-il is getting crazier and more delusional in his old age.

So, do we affectionately call him "Krazy Kim"

[sticker]

It ranks as one of his better works, along with Tumbling Dice and Rowland the Headless Thompson Gunner.

[johnb838]

Debka says...

(jk)

[steveegg]

NK is just like the trash-talking punk on the sidelines of a basketball pickup game. All talk and no game.

These people are nothing but chumps.

But chumps that have nuclear weapons, the means to deliver them, and a couple of fellow Axis of Weavil members that are quite well-armed and still smarting over the demise of Saddam Hussein.

[AFPhys]

That's what most people thought while the Japanese ministers were in talks in Washington D.C. in 1941.

Ohhh... man oh man... why did you have to remind me about that?

[Nexus]

If our forces are overwelmed, do we have a plan to get the 30,000 out of there in short order?

Would we then bother with a Normandy style invasion?

[Quix]

HMMMMM,

What MIGHT he know that we don't?

It is quite logical that the evil in the world wants to tie the USA up with as many destructive complications and situations spread as widely apart as possible.

I suspect they should not count the USA down and out nor God Almighty impotent or uninterested.

Nor should they count RUMMY tired, impotent or indecisive.

But it could still get interesting. Supposedly MAY will be RESTFUL according to one interesting Bible Code. We aren't to MAY, yet.

The NK leadership is crazy. And the NK leadership is very addicted to dramatic overweaning attention. And the NK leadership may be real annoyed that Iraq has gotten so much of the attention.

They may be all wound up and ready for a great fit of a tantrum full of their loudest screams, rants and writhing in the floor that they can muster . . . now if they want to throw nukes around in the process--like a 2 year old throwing toys for effect . . .

Could get interesting.

[Quix]

And the Mainland Chinese tendency with 2 year olds, is to let them throw their fits--either ignoring them or walking away from them or some such--until the child starts school.

Could be interesting.

[hispanarepublicana]

It is probable that, as early as tomorrow, there will be a catastrophic development of events," Itar-Tass quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov as saying.

The SEC or some such body in whatever country he trades, should look closely at his stock transactions over the past 24 hours.

[kjam22]

I think that would be "Kwazy Kim"

[caa26]

Would there be any way to see if a large amount of short positions are being purchased on the stock markets?

That is exactly what some greedy SOB's did right before 9-11. And, I have never heard anything about the investigation of who was behind this.

[steveegg]

That's how most of the world thinks; if you can't beat "them" fairly (and even if you can), use every dirty trick in the book.

[widgysoft]

The clock is ticking N.Korea!....