U.S. Cites Signs of Korean Steps to Nuclear Test

[Chicago Democrat]

U.S. Cites Signs of Korean Steps to Nuclear Test

By DAVID E. SANGER and WILLIAM J. BROAD
Published: May 6, 2005

WASHINGTON, May 5 - White House and Pentagon officials are closely monitoring a recent stream of satellite photographs of North Korea that appear to show rapid, extensive preparations for a nuclear weapons test, including the construction of a reviewing stand, presumably for dignitaries, according to American and foreign officials who have been briefed on the imagery.

Page One: Friday, May 6, 2005

North Korea has never tested a nuclear weapon.

Bush administration officials, when asked Thursday about the burst of activity at a suspected test site in the northeastern part of the country, cautioned that satellites could not divine the intentions of Kim Jong Il, North Korea's leader, and said it was possible that he was putting on a show for American spy satellites. They said the North Koreans might be trying to put pressure on President Bush to offer a improved package of economic and diplomatic incentives to the desperately poor country in exchange for curtailing its nuclear activities.

"The North Koreans have learned how to use irrationality as a bargaining tool," a senior American official said Thursday evening. "We can't tell what they are doing."

http://nytimes.com/2005/05/06/international/asia/06korea.html?hp&ex=1115438400&en=773ed03c17edc59c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Chicago Democrat]

1. Uh oh....

yikes

[Theduckno2]

2. Yeah , I'm getting a queazy feeling too!

The news of the recent military buildup in the western Pacific got my attention (see related LBN). Forward deployment of the B2 bombers to Guam makes me think something is afoot. Curious thought though, does putting B2s on Guam make it easier to get to Iran?

[MrPrax]

3. New Low for the Times...

Bush administration officials, when asked "cautioned that satellites could not divine the intentions of Kim Jong Il, North Korea's leader, and said it was possible that he was putting on a show for American spy satellites."

So if the reason was forthcoming, why the urgency of the text, other than produce a propaganda statement for the federal authority in the US...

I thought Judith Miller was in jail?

[LynnTheDem]

4. bushCartel: "blah blah. blah blah blah, blah blah. blah, blah blah..."

Et-frigging-cetera.

[LynnTheDem]

5. BUSH wants MORE AND NEW NUKES.

Can we say "total f*cking HYPOCRITE"?

Well done. I knew we could.

[chlamor]

6. North Korea May Test Nuclear Device

North Korea May Test Nuclear Device

Friday May 6, 2005 1:46 PM

By MARI YAMAGUCHI

Associated Press Writer

TOKYO (AP) - Japan has information that North Korea may be preparing for a nuclear test, a Defense Agency official said Friday, less than a week after Pyongyang is believed to have tested a short-range missile off its eastern coast.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refused to specify the information or its source. An official at the Foreign Ministry said Japan was exchanging information on North Korea with ``concerned countries,'' but did not confirm that there were signs of an imminent test.

The New York Times on Friday reported that the White House and Pentagon officials were examining satellite photographs that suggest North Korea is making rapid preparations for a nuclear test.

The report, which cited unidentified American and foreign officials, also said that the U.S. had extensively briefed Japan and South Korea on the preparations.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4987399,00.html

[blogbear]

7. Could this be Pyongyang's way of saying pee on you?

[lonestarnot]

8. rugh row.

[David__77]

9. N. Korea has the right to defend itself.

It is not an aggressor nation. Let's remember who is surrounding whom with soldiers and weapons and bases. Sovereign nations have the right and duty to defend against aggression.

[Chicago Democrat]

11. Oh I agree.....

The genie is out of the bottle. I like nukes, they make me feel safe. (as long as everyone has them, MAD theory seems to work)

[Rainscents]

10. Do you suppose, national ID will be use for draft?

:nuke:

[Xenotime]

12. Reason...

The only reason they would feed the need to defend themselves is if there was the chance of another country invading them for no reason at all after putting them on an "Axis of Evil" list or somthing.....Oh wait...

[Kelvin Mace]

13. Let's see how his could play out.

North Korea detonates a nuke to show America that it really has one. Bush launches "surgical" air strikes to destroy suspected nuke facilities. Kim invades South Korea with conventional forces after it lobs nukes on Seoul and Japan. Hilarity ensues as Bush tries to use nukes in the region and is told in NO uncertain terms by Russia, Japan, Korea, China New Zealand and Australia that this will NOT be allowed and disregarding this warning will be considered an act of war. Bush will then either have to use them (in order to make his Jihadis happy, since it will give them their Armageddon scenario) or begin massive redeployment of troops from Iraq to Korea.

Iraq will immediately collapse into civil war, Afghanistan's U.S. backed government will be overthrown. Coup attempts will be launched in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Turkey, Iran and Syria will move into Iraq in force to stop the Kurds. Massacres and genocide will be the order of the day.

Meanwhile, oil will hit $150 a barrel and the economy will collapse about the time Bush institutes the draft. Mandatory draft will cause anti-Bush riots in U.S. and moves in congress to impeach Bush. Pro-impeachment forces will be arrested and imprisoned without trial. Martial law will go into affect. 2006 election will be canceled.

Then things will get bad.

[TrogL]

16. You just got me in trouble

Then things will get bad.

My boss wants to know why I'm laughing my guts out.

[daleo]

17. Your scenario is possible.

Things could well spin out of control, especially since Bush has shown his disdain for international law. Any leader being threatened by Bush will immediately think of Saddam's eventual plight. I think this is the most likely reason they haven't killed Saddam yet - if they establish that killing the leader is automatic then leaders of "axis of evil" states will be more likely to use any means at their disposal to resist, as their own life is sure to be forfeit.

[daleo]

14. They tested one last year.

Mushroom cloud and all that.

""The North Koreans have learned how to use irrationality as a bargaining tool," a senior American official said Thursday evening."

Just like Bush, sans the bargaining.

[Massacure]

15. Maybe the bomb will be bigger than the expected it to be.

It would be pretty funny if Kim Jung Il killed himself with it. :P