Posted on 08/18/2006 7:46:33 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Reports from Seoul Korea, (daily newspaper Joongang Ilbo in Seoul) via the Japanese Jiji press agency, that South Korean intelligence has intercepted radio messages/communications in North Korea, which were aired last month, to civilians in the Kilju County, Northern Hamgyeong Province area of northeastern D.P.R.K., to evacuate.
The source in the South Korean government said "our interpretation is that following North Korea's underground nuclear blast test, they wish to head off any escape of radiation that would be a threat to the nearby civilian population and are evacuating as such."
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20060819-00000041-jij-int as well as above.
The province in question is Hamgyong Bukdo, and is the same province where the Taepodong 2 launch site is located, in Musudanri. In fact, Kilju is not far from Musudanri....
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/korea_north_admin_2005.pdf
And, from Global Security.org site:
"By late April 2005 there were reports that North Koreans were constructing a reviewing stand and filling in a tunnel, both signs that an underground nuclear test was imminent. Tunnels for underground nuclear tests are different from regular mines, since they have to be plugged up to contain the blast. Satellite imagery reportedly indicated the North Koreans were "stemming" the tunnel, taking material back into the shaft to plug it up. Satellite imagery indicated that North Korea was shipping concrete and grouting to the site, possibly to plug the tunnel. Although there were signs of continued activity near tunnels in the Kilju area, there was disagreement among intelligence agencies as to whether the recent activity indicated an impending nuclear test.
Other reports indicated that the satellite imagery showed the North Koreans had dug and refilled a significant hole at the suspected test site. The hole was said to have been dug in a manner consistent with preparations for an underground nuclear test, but there was no conclusive indication as to whether the North Koreans had deposited a weapon inside. These reports indicate that the shaft is a vertical shaft, rather than a horizontal tunnel. Imagery also detected frequent truck movement bringing cranes and other equipment. The presence of cranes is consistent with a vertical shaft, but not a horizontal tunnel.
Imagery was also reported to show recent construction of an elaborate reviewing stand for visiting dignitaries a few kilometers from the suspected test site. The reviewing stand was considered a significant indicator of a possible nuclear test. American intelligence had overlooked the reviewing stand built prior to the 1998 Taepodong-1 missile launch. The North Koreans had visitors from other countries invited to watch the launch.
And further on ABC-TV news reports last night of satellite views showing pre-test type movements of equipment in the area of the underground test site(s) in North Korea.
not good.
the missile tests were to show the iranians in attendance that they worked.
and now they are demonstrating the warhead for them too?
Hey, can we test OUR BOMBS over there???
Just a thought........
Headfake. Still not good.
No. Not good alright.
Since when did North Korea care about the welfare of its citizens?
BUMP and PING
Why do they bother to evacuate the civilians? They're
starving them to death anyway.
Ruh roh Shaggy....
like North Koreans have ever been given a choice?
would you buy a nuclear warhead from someone, without a demo?
One could make up some common Iranian surnames, and call hotels looking for them; it would be interesting whom the front desk would patch one through to (although all calls in and out of DPRK are monitored and the Public Security Bureau could flip a switch at once to cut the conversation)....
What are Madame Albrights current travel plans?
Good thought. And we may just be doing that in the near future if Pyongyang continues to defy the International Community.
After all, what's the point of evacuating and diminishing the Productivity of New Socialist Labor until you are sure the test has failed. ;)
indeed.
this is one way for iran to jumpstart their weapons program. it may take too long to build one, so why not just buy one? they are rolling in oil money, a $10 billion dollar purchase of 5 warheads - is chicken feed to them.
Probably most of the DPRK civilians in that area are family members of military all throughout that part of the Province, who themselves are involved in nuke warhead and missile propulsion technogies...or support personnel. They could not care less about them, yes, but they would evacuate them as the 'time' approached.
ping
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