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N Korea threatens to 'destroy world'
Guardian.co.uk ^

Posted on 12/23/2002 7:20:11 PM PST by Dallas

Desperate efforts began yesterday to head off the growing Korean crisis as Pyongyang and Washington continued to talk up the tension.

The UN has confirmed that North Korea has carried out its threat to remove UN seals and dismantle monitoring cameras at a laboratory used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

Senator Joseph Biden, the outgoing chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, warned that North Korea's plan to restart a programme for plutonium extraction could allow it to produce bombs "within months".

A spokesman for the Vienna - based International Atomic Energy Agency said: "There isn't any legitimate purpose for the facility other than separating plutonium from spent fuel."

Pyongyang has issued a series of threats, including one to "destroy the earth" if the US resorted to nuclear war against it. South Korea's president, Kim Dae-jung, and the president-elect, Roh Moo-hyun, sought to calm the mood by saying they wanted a peaceful resolution.

While Russia expressed concern at the North's weekend announcement, the deputy foreign minister warned the US not to aggravate the crisis.

But the US state department yesterday rejected Pyongyang's insistence that the crisis can be solved if the US signs a treaty of non-aggression. "We will not bargain or offer inducements for North Korea to live up to the treaties and agreements it has signed," a spokesman said.

US intelligence sources were quoted by the BBC as saying they believe "North Korea may already have a small number of nuclear bombs and the material to make a few more".

Mr Biden said the crisis was "a greater danger immediately to US interests ... than Saddam Hussein."

Yesterday, the defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, dismissed such concerns. "We are capable of fighting two major regional conflicts," he said.

"We're capable of winning decisively in one and swiftly defeating in the case of the other, and let there be no doubt about it."

He said Washington chose to pursue a diplomatic strategy against North Korea for the moment, as that crisis was still at a relatively early stage.

The North Korean media, which is never short of a fiery turn of phrase, has given Bush administration hardliners all the material they may want.

The communist party's newspaper Workers' Daily declared that "the army and people of the DPRK are fully ready to mercilessly strike the bulwark of US imperialist aggressors" - implying that they could hit targets in the US.

"There can be no earth without Korea," it said. "The army and people of the DPRK will destroy the earth if the enemies dare make a nuclear strike at it. This is their do-or-die spirit."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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To: MJY1288; DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet; Texasforever; CWOJackson; Amelia; justshe; All
I'm glad I'm not the ONLY one who notices this pattern. At least, those in my line of work notice it well, and I'm talking about OTHER Enlisteds, here.

If a bunch of Bluejackets around the lunch table can see the pattern, why is it so difficult for those with all those degrees and titles?


61 posted on 12/23/2002 7:54:11 PM PST by Long Cut
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To: alaskanfan
Nukes reduce the need for a large standing Army.

However, unless you are willing to use nukes, then they no longer have the ability to prevent war. And if you will not use nukes, then a huge standing army is the only option left.

So, are you suggesting that America spend the money to outfit a strong 5 million person military (with tanks, artillery, aircraft, ships, subs, etc) instead?

Are YOU willing to pay for this huge military?

62 posted on 12/23/2002 7:54:23 PM PST by Hunble
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To: Revolting cat!
China/Russia may have intended to sit on the sidelines on this one, but they won't be able to much longer. I don't know what they'll do exactly, but something I'm sure.
63 posted on 12/23/2002 7:54:36 PM PST by Dallas
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To: Brad's Gramma
http://www.christianpulpit.com/ram/jhwrath2.ram

I suggest all Freepers listen to that audio link sooner rather than later :-\

64 posted on 12/23/2002 7:55:11 PM PST by MatthewViti
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To: Dallas; Poohbah
Yeah, but compard to what North Korean nukes fired as a "shot from the grave" represent - DEFINITE death for millions in Seoul, Pusan, Tokyo, Saesbo, Kadena, and elsewhere...

We have no choice. We may have to replicate Osirak on Yongbyon. And do so soon.
65 posted on 12/23/2002 7:55:31 PM PST by hchutch
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To: Navy Patriot
If you're in San Francisco, then God will probably destroy it before NK does. If he doesn't, then, of course, he'll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Uh oh. What if he decides to use NK to execute his Judgment on SF? Hmmm. My Advice.... Pray and Fast and Repent. It worked for the Ninevites. It could work for SF. BTW Where is Jonah when you need him?

66 posted on 12/23/2002 7:55:39 PM PST by P-Marlowe
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To: Miss Marple
I feel we are about to witness the end of the Liberal strangle hold in America. People are tired of them and their continuous appeasement of our enemies. WJC chose his cabinet with the implicit thought that they were there to serve him and NOT the Country. Thoughout Bill Clinton's life, he has consistantly chosen the path of least resistance and we are paying the price for that kind of leadership and failed policies now.

As I have said many times, History will be the worst enemy of the legacy of Bill Clinton and the miserable failures he chose to serve in his cabinet. Facts are facts and the failed policies of Bill Clinton and Al Gore will haunt us for many years

67 posted on 12/23/2002 7:56:39 PM PST by MJY1288
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To: Dallas
Asked about this the Earth replied it would study the NK position and comment at a later time.
68 posted on 12/23/2002 7:57:05 PM PST by kinghorse
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To: MissAmericanPie
Yeah, China worries me, for sure. Their current chummy relationship with us doesn't reassure me.
69 posted on 12/23/2002 7:57:24 PM PST by Dudoight
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To: Rye
4 Trident Subs with multiple reentry conventional, independantly targeted warheads, you really could do some nice pinpoint work and no nuclear fallout mess, surprise NK, no more nuclear plants or military infastructure, you can be as close as 50 miles, no warning.
70 posted on 12/23/2002 7:57:44 PM PST by agincourt1415
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To: Tax-chick
Did you type all those "ha's" one at a time, or do you have a program for it?

Low tech.

I just type a dozen or so then copy and paste.

71 posted on 12/23/2002 7:58:05 PM PST by Publius6961
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To: Gritty
I'm afraid you're right.

They're the pivot on the axis of evil....

72 posted on 12/23/2002 7:58:23 PM PST by Dallas
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To: Rye
http://www.christianpulpit.com/ram/jhwrath2.ram

I suggest all Freepers listen to that audio link sooner rather than later :-\

73 posted on 12/23/2002 8:00:09 PM PST by MatthewViti
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To: MissAmericanPie
"The thing is, if they unite with other like minded nations, with nukes, we could have a bit of a problem."

It doesn't appear the new regime is interested any longer in U.S. military support.

Protesters hold an anti-U.S. demonstration in Seoul on November 27.

74 posted on 12/23/2002 8:00:42 PM PST by Happy2BMe
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To: Hunble
So, are you suggesting that America spend the money to outfit a strong 5 million person military (with tanks, artillery, aircraft, ships, subs, etc) instead?

Are YOU willing to pay for this huge military?

I fail to see how you surmise all of this from my one word reply.

75 posted on 12/23/2002 8:01:42 PM PST by alaskanfan
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To: Sabertooth
Its time to get into the Holiday "Spirit."


76 posted on 12/23/2002 8:01:46 PM PST by ConservativeLawyer
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To: dogbyte12
Nuke NK and turn it over to the Chinese.
77 posted on 12/23/2002 8:02:53 PM PST by Cvengr
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To: Sabertooth
Thank you, Bill, Hillary, Jimmy, Madelene, Patty Murray, et al.
78 posted on 12/23/2002 8:03:12 PM PST by Parmy
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To: Brad's Gramma
N. Korea might be a bigger threat, But Iraq will serve as an example. If suicide is what North korea wants, than they will launch a nuclear tipped missile. But history has shown that Dictators are willing to send their people to their deaths but do all they can to preserve themselves and the flock the have beaten into submission.
79 posted on 12/23/2002 8:03:22 PM PST by MJY1288
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To: eastforker
I hope I shall never see the day when the forces of right are deprived of the right of force.

We sleep soundly in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others.

If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

We cannot guarantee victory, but only deserve it.
Winston Churchill

80 posted on 12/23/2002 8:03:32 PM PST by mommadooo3
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