Goodbye, FBM>

[Gawdzilla Sama]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?rid=20 ... 0dcacdad95

[FBM]

Maybe something, maybe nothing. Maybe NK need to save/regain face internally after the missle flop...

http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/ ... |newslist1

North nuke test could happen soon, source says

北, '3차 핵실험' 추가 도발 카드 꺼낼까?
Apr 25,2012

BEIJING - North Korea has almost completed preparations for a third nuclear test and has the capacity to carry it out “soon,” a senior source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing told Reuters.

“Soon. Preparations are almost complete,” the source said when asked whether North Korea was planning to undertake a nuclear test.

North Korea said last week it was ready to retaliate in the face of international condemnation over this month’s failed rocket launch, increasing the likelihood the hermit state will push ahead with a third nuclear test in defiance of U.N. sanctions. The source has correctly predicted events in the past, telling Reuters about North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006 days before it took place.

This is the first time an official with knowledge of Pyongyang’s intentions has confirmed the test is set to happen.

Newspapers have quoted officials in Seoul as saying the test could take place as early as in two weeks. The source did not specify whether the test would be a third test using plutonium or whether Pyongyang would use highly enriched uranium.

Many analysts expect that North Korea will for the first time try a nuclear device using highly enriched uranium, something it was long suspected of developing but to?which it?only publicly admitted about two years ago.

Defense experts say that by successfully enriching uranium, to make bombs of the type dropped on Hiroshima nearly 70 years ago, the North would be able to significantly build up stocks of weapons-grade nuclear material.

It would also allow it to more easily manufacture a nuclear warhead to mount on a long-range missile.

“North Korea may consider abandoning [the test] if the United States agrees to a peace treaty,” the source said, reiterating a long-standing demand by Pyongyang for recognition by Washington and a treaty to end the Korean War (1950-53), which ended in a truce.

Reuters

[Ian]

[FBM]

[FBM]

Get ready for Round 3:

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/24/world ... ?hpt=hp_t3

North Korea ready to carry out nuclear test at any moment, Seoul says

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea appears to be ready to carry out a nuclear test whenever leaders of the reclusive state give the green light, a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry said Thursday.

The comment follows an analysis of recent commercial satellite images by the defense publication IHS Janes, which suggested activity was being ramped up at North Korea's nuclear test site.

Mining carts and excavation equipment at the tunneling area of the North's Punggye-ri site can be seen in satellite images taken by Digital Globe and GeoEye in the past month. Earth and debris are being removed from the tunnel in the largest quantities seen so far, according to the Janes assessment.

Full story and vid in link.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I was wondering why we hadn't had any new entries in this thread. Tell Won Bik Dik to keep us entertained, please.

[FBM]

They deny it, of course.

http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/ ... |newslist1

North claims it doesn’t have plan to test nukes

北 '핵실험 계획' 부인했지만… "행동이 중요"
May 24,2012

Pyongyang publicly said they don’t have any plans to carry out a nuclear weapon test, denying speculation that the test would happen soon as part of its military provocations following the long-range rocket launch.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency released a statement on Tuesday night in which the unnamed spokesman for the Foreign Ministry denounced the recent G8 Summit held in the United States.

“We strongly condemn how the participants of the summit of eight countries unfairly criticized our peaceful satellite launch and nuclear deterrence for self-defense,” the statement read. “In fact, we didn’t forecast any military measures such as a nuclear test, because we planned only a peaceful satellite launch for scientific technology from the beginning.”

“Despite our efforts for peace, we can’t help but take measures for self-defense if the United States is sticking to the pressure and sanction games.”

Speculation has been high that the regime would soon carry out an underground nuclear weapons test, as part of their nuclear program package after the launch of long-range satellite Kwangmyongsong-3.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it’s rare for North Korea to publicly speak about a nuclear test.

“However, the point is not whether they have a plan for a nuclear test,” Kim Hyung-suk, the ministry’s spokesman said yesterday. “North Korea is still insistent on developing its nuclear weapons, apparently shown in yesterday’s statement as well.”

Victoria Nuland, spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, also said they won’t believe the comment until the regime backs it up.

“Well, I think Ambassador Davies, you know, responded to the extent that we’re going to respond,” Nuland said at a briefing held Tuesday. “We’re going to be guided not by what they say, but what they do.”

In fact, the statement still said, “Our self-defense nuclear deterrence is triggered by the U.S. government’s hostile policies that try to crash our regime and we will expand and strengthen the deterrence as far as the U.S. continues those policies.”

However, Pyongyang also said that “there’s always a way for a dialogue and negotiation,” and they have been “cautious in taking action even after the May 29 bilateral food deal with the U.S. was broken,” raising speculation that they want to resume talks with the U.S.


By Kim Hee-jin [heejin@joongang.co.kr]

[Gawdzilla Sama]

How much longer can this joke last?

[Warren Dew]

Why would they need to do another nuclear test? They already know their nukes work.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Why would they need to do another nuclear test? They already know their nukes work.

Shelf life.

[FBM]

Why would they need to do another nuclear test? They already know their nukes work.

It's just time for a so they can barter again.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Why would they need to do another nuclear test? They already know their nukes work.

It's just time for a so they can barter again.

Reminds me of the fable of the guy who used so many tree limbs to prop up his creaky old house that he wound up with a completely new place, made entirely of tree limbs.