Posted on 08/08/2017 9:31:32 AM PDT by Red Badger
North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded in a confidential assessment.
The new analysis completed last month by the Defense Intelligence Agency comes on the heels of another intelligence assessment that sharply raises the official estimate for the total number of bombs in the communist country’s atomic arsenal. The U.S. calculated last month that up to 60 nuclear weapons are now controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Some independent experts believe the number of bombs is much smaller.
The findings are likely to deepen concerns about an evolving North Korean military threat that appears to be advancing far more rapidly than many experts had predicted. U.S. officials last month concluded that Pyongyang is also outpacing expectations in its effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking cities on the American mainland.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
How long after a successful point in the development process will it be before The NORKs sell some to Iran?
Question One: Why haven’t we already erased this threat from the map? Question Two: At this pace, if organic progress on their part, at which point will they match or even exceed US technology advancement? Seems like in both cases we are idling standing by watching the balance of power in Korea change, potentially in region change, and, worse, allowing a direct threat to the US emerge. While I realize the cost of war, especially and immediately to South Korea, will be high, allowing it to expand to be equally high to us here in the US is treason by US leadership.
________________________________________________________________________________
“Despite efforts by the United Nations to impose isolating sanctions on North Korea in response to the country’s continued development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, trade between Russia and North Korea soared more than 85 percent in the first four months of the year.”
http://www.dw.com/en/russia-steps-up-north-korea-support-to-constrain-us/a-38867861
How do we know they haven’t already?.......................
#Calexit maybe happening sooner than later....
Sneaky Norks would most likely deliver via cargo container than ICBM, but to the USA, the ICBM is the shiny object.
Thanks to China and the rest of NK’s neighbors. Thanks also to the Terrorist in Chief who did nothing but give the US over to our enemies for 8 years.
Because the Mullahs haven’t fired them off at Israel yet.
“Question One: Why haven’t we already erased this threat from the map? “
Because we haven’t before had a president willing to do it. I think we have both the means and the will at this present moment. And if we wait until NK builds a nuclear arsenal the cost of dealing with them will go up immensely.
Because we can never ever ever ever ever go to war again.
Because Bush is Hitler. Or something.
Sneaky Norks would most likely deliver via cargo container than ICBM, but to the USA, the ICBM is the shiny object.
Excellent comment!!! and I concurr—SPOT ON!!
With their neighborly friends ‘helping’ them along with vehicles, parts, electronics etc. Lil butterball will be ready for a launched atmospheric burst or test to try out the targeting software their friends are giving them. How many believe the norks have the infrastructure and materials and computer engineering/assembly/chip mfg. needed to build these transports, launchers, missiles, engines etc. in this short a time ?
Like many and myself have said before on this site. Give them time and they will figure it out.
If they dont have it now, they will have it very soon.
My hunch is that they would fire one off at HI and turn that place into glass first thing.
From the campaign trail, 2008...
A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.
The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:
Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.
First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]
Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.
I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.
I will not weaponize space.
I will slow our development of future combat systems.
And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.
Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.
You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.
Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://web.archive.org/web/20090412030633/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp
"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
__________________________________________________________
How long before an “assessment” that a bomb which destroys Tokyo or NYC originated in North Korea? We went from not allowing them to have nukes to them having SIXTY?
Not sure I trust Wa-po on this. But I’m sure we should thank Bill Clinton for his “loving gift” to the country.
LOL!!!
China might not even have this much technology....
But the Russian Federation does.
And Russia may be disposed to making some kind of deal with North Korea.
There are people here in the US (not the Trump administration) who are trying to press the US into heightened conflict with the Russian Federation, as witness this most recent sanctions bill from Congress with a Congressional review rider, in regards to unilaterally changing sanctions now in place on Russia.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.