Removal of Rods @ Nuke Plant Touches Off Increase of US Forces Near Korean Peninsula (Developing)

SBS TV (Korea), KBS TV (Korea) and a bunch of other sources in Korea and Japan ^ | 4 February 2003 (Asia Time) | AmericanInTokyo

[AmericanInTokyo]

[Images from S. Korean TV last night]

News agencies throughout Asia are reporting this morning (afternoon/pm Monday US Time) of the incremental building of US Pacific Command military forces in and around the Korean Peninsula.

SBS-TV from Seoul, South Korea confirms the Pentagon move to fortress up more US forces around the area including one US aircraft carrier, increased mobilization of F-15s and B-1/B-52 bombers (with support from US Forces Japan and increasing force in Guam of long range bombers), cancellation of transfer orders from Korea, increasing by nearly 3000 US Airforce personnel. (Moderator note: Open Source Info).

Top story on South Korea's KBS-TV and SBS-TV,and written press.

The SBS-TV news reporters indicate the decision (although claimed by the US not to be representative of a departure from diplomacy vs. the DPRK) came as a recent reaction to North Korea's move during January to remove the 8000 nuclear fuel rods from Yongbyon facility, in an possible effort to begin immediate mass production of nuclear weapons.

It also said it is a signal of US international military strength to Pyongyang that although the USA will be attacking Iraq shortly, Kim Jong il would be best advised not to be emboldened or mistaken that the US will avert its attention from the Korean peninsula and the latest troubles there.

Additional sources showed the conciliartory, liberal government of Kim Dae Jung in Seoul, had not confirmed the removal of 8,000 fuel rods from Yongbyon, despite recent concern and sudden action by the US in the region).

(Developing)

[The Turbanator]

Good God. Will George Bush ever get a break? What next?

[Centurion2000]

The scary thing is that the fuel rods have already moved .... which means that there is unaccountable plutonium bouncing around in NK .... God forbid it gets sold on the black market.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes. No wonder the man's hair is going white so fast and the furrows in his forehead are microns deeper by the day....

[jigsaw]

AmericanInTokyo, in addition to the news value of your post, you again demostrate the amazing reach and speed of FreeRepublic. Thanks for your post and for keeping us all informed.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In Pyongyang, they hate us enough to sell (and probably GIVE) that pluto to any street thug organization in middle east who also loathes our American guts.

Pray and mobilize.

We better finish the job now this time (exactly 60 years later) as Gen. MacArthur had wisely advised.

[AmericanInTokyo]

arigato, chonmanheyo, xie xie

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The scary thing is that the fuel rods have already moved .... which means that there is unaccountable plutonium bouncing around in NK .... God forbid it gets sold on the black market.

All thanks to the super-geniuses Clinton and Carter, let's not forget.

[Dog Gone]

It seems that we are in for a wild ride during 2003. Hang tough and good luck to all.

[anobjectivist]

two front war here we go

[AmericanInTokyo]

"Axis of Evil, Pacific Front" - Bump!

[unspun]

All thanks to the super-geniuses Clinton and Carter, let's not forget.

Jimmy should have listened better to Amy.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...Will George Bush ever get a break? What next?

I'd guess either an outbreak of war in the Balkans or the report of a military and/or economic alliance of Cuba, Venezuala and Brazil, perhaps with Columbian or Central American rebel/cartel groups too.

There's always the chance that Indonesia could light up first, but I'm guessing not yet.

[unspun]

Prayer bump.
MacArthur bump.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Clinton and Carter (if I am not mistaken) are very very silent about this whole thing, because the more they talk about it, the more they risk being spotlighted and blamed, as people begin to recall their appeasement policies and disarmament. Yes, Jimmy's too busy polishing his Nobel medallions, and Bill is too busy with New York interns under his desk.

And all the while, the people voted to re-elect Bill Clinton and say "the economy is the only thing that matters to me. Leave the guy alone, even if he is immoral, I'M DOIN' FINE."

[DaGman]

IMHO, N Korea is the main threat to world peace and not Iraq. N Korea needs to be handled and handled now before this gets out of control.

[unspun]

"...North Korea's move during January to remove the 8000 nuclear fuel rods from Yongbyon facility, in an possible effort to begin immediate mass production of nuclear weapons."

But exportation is another concern, I'm sure.

[Cindy]

YAHOO! News - Articles - Topic: "NORTH KOREA"

NORTH KOREA DAILY News Online

NewsMax.com: HOT TOPICS: "NORTH KOREA"

GLOBAL SECURITY.org: YONGBYON [NYONGBYON]

IAEA.org - INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: Press Releases