US Identifies Nuclear Testing Range In North Korea

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-2-2003 | David Rennie

[blam]

US identifies nuclear testing range in North Korea

By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 02/07/2003)

American spy satellites have found what looks like an advanced nuclear testing range in North Korea, it was reported yesterday.

An intelligence assessment, which has been shared with Japan, South Korea and other East Asian nations, identifies a previously unknown range of the type needed to produce a nuclear missile warhead, the New York Times said.

The satellite images from the Youngdoktong area appear to show tests of sophisticated conventional explosives, designed to simulate a compact nuclear detonation.

Intelligence officials in the United States have concluded that North Korea is moving closer to building a "miniaturised" nuclear device that could be fitted on to its arsenal of missiles, some of which may have the range to hit Alaska.

In a worst case scenario, the Stalinist nation could be less than a year from producing a nuclear missile warhead.

That assessment remains a "best guess rather than a solid estimate", one Bush administration official told the newspaper.

Such uncertainty points to a further cause for alarm: the outside world's reliance on remote sensors and satellite images to track what is going on inside the paranoid totalitarian state.

[LasVegasMac]

Oh, the first time I read the title I thought we were going to resume our nuclear testing program.

LVM

[blam]

North Korea 'Could Nuke Japan'

[Southack]

North Korea is a prime area for the U.S. to resume "testing" our nuclear warheads.

Also, it's worth noting that by the time north Korea can actually launch its nukes, we'll already have half a dozen or more ABM interceptors in place and working.

So far, North Korea has only been able to hand build one major rocket every five years. There's just no way that can keep up with American manufacturing.

[Bill Davis FR]

BUMP for launching on discovery...