Exclusive: North Korea tells China of preparations for fresh nuclear test

[Turborama]

Source: Reuters

By Benjamin Kang Lim
BEIJING | Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:31am EST

- North Korea has told its key ally, China, that it is prepared to stage one or even two more nuclear tests this year in an effort to force the United States into diplomatic talks with Pyongyang, said a source with direct knowledge of the message.

Further tests could also be accompanied this year by another rocket launch, said the source who has direct access to the top levels of government in both Beijing and Pyongyang.

The isolated regime conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday, drawing global condemnation and a stern warning from the United States that it was a threat and a provocation.

"It's all ready. A fourth and fifth nuclear test and a rocket launch could be conducted soon, possibly this year," the source said, adding that the fourth nuclear test would be much larger than the third at an equivalent of 10 kilotons of TNT.

The tests will be undertaken, the source said, unless Washington holds talks with North Korea and abandons its policy of what Pyongyang sees as attempts at regime change.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-korea-north-nuclear-idUSBRE91E0J820130215

[onehandle]

1. If not for China, NK would have fallen long ago.

They love this.

[Javaman]

2. What is interesting about this is the turn around time for a second test...

this is less about a test than it is N. Korea making a clear statement that not only they can produce a nuclear weapon, but they are now able to put them into regular production.

this is a very disturbing announcement.

To me this only highlights the further and complete failure that george w. moron* was as a pResident. While N. Korea was actually developing nukes, he chose to go after the oil in Iraq to protect his buddies instead of the Nation.

[iandhr]

4. The Onion Mentioned this in 2003.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/n-korea-wondering-what-it-has-to-do-to-attract-us,35/


"Bush says his number one priority is eliminating weapons of mass destruction, but he sure doesn't act that way," Kim said. "Iraq may have weapons of mass destruction and may be developing more. The DPRK, on the other hand, does have weapons of mass destruction and isn't about to stop making them any time soon."

"Can I be any more clear?" Kim continued. "We have nuclear bombs and delivery methods. Kablooey! There goes Anchorage! But does Bush care? Nope—he just goes on about how we're 'a diplomatic issue, not a military one.' If he even mentions us at all, that is."

[killbotfactory]

3. They are trying to put themselves in a position of strength for negotiations

Negotiations seem inevitable, regardless. Why not start diplomatic talks already?

How much effect will further sanctions have, even if China goes along with it?

[SkyDaddy7]

6. NO, if China actually went along...

with sanctions the NK regime would collapse, period. The ONLY source of food for NK is China.

NK must learn that launching missiles & setting off nukes is not how one goes about starting talks...That is precisely why NK acts the way it does because it is use to getting what it wants by acting like a child...Hell, we should just let them blow up all their fissile material & be done with them altogether because soon as we give them what they want they will be back to doing the same exact thing 5yrs from now...We have been down this road many times!!

China is the ONLY reason NK exist.

[James48]

5. Of course......

Of course...each "test" consumes the nuclear fissionable material that was made and no longer is available for use against a foreign nation.


I'd say let them test- underground- as many as they can make, and use up all that material.

[Trascoli]

7. China needs to be held accountable

they seem to be BFL's

[davidpdx]

8. I agree