N.Korea Sees Sept. 9 as Deadline for U.S. Action

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=716&e=15&u=/nm/20030723/ts_nm/korea_north_deadline_dc

TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea (news - web sites) is prepared to declare itself a nuclear state unless the United States responds positively to its proposals for resolving a row over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions by Sept. 9 -- the anniversary of the communist country's founding, diplomatic sources in Tokyo said.

One source with close ties to Pyongyang told Reuters that the North was ready to declare itself officially a member of the nuclear club, opening the way for possible nuclear tests and increased production of weapons.

"North Korea will move on to possess nuclear weapons and declare itself a nuclear state if the United States fails to respond to its proposals before September 9," he said.

Pyongyang has said it has finished reprocessing spent nuclear fuel that could allow it to make about a half a dozen atomic bombs, but doubts persist about the accuracy of its claims.

Another source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said China feared that a muted response from the United States or fruitless talks could prompt North Korea to declare itself a nuclear state.

more

[Safi]

1. It has nothing to do with...

It has nothing to do with the idea that if the US doesn't make a peaceful action that two days later they will render their own version of *9-11*...

-Safi

[Wonder]

2. its a game of pingpong

"Pyongyang has been at a loss because the United States does not send any clear signals that it really wants to have a dialogue," the source said."

The other article suggested talks were going well this one states there are no clear indications the US is interested in a dialogue.

I am not aware NK is threating to *strike* anyone if proposals are not met. I have to go back over what are exactly NK'sproposals. I don't remember what they are. Does someone here know. What has stuck in my mind is NK's warning that if they are struck preemptively they will strike back.

[DeathvadeR]

3. Some leaders we have running the country.

They can't even converse with other nations. we aren't talking to Iran either. Its fuqin children running the WH. It's as if they are covering their ears and going I am not listening to you ahahahahahahaahahahahahaa. It's only nuclear risks at stake. How in the hell can you ingage in democratic relations without talking is beyond me.. It's fuqin ludicris/

[Wonder]

11. I know they are boycotting any diplomacy

what so ever just refusing to sit down because they are alL so evil while they trump up and exagerate the threats... like Israel now declaring Iran is a threat to the ENTIRE WORLD... and plan for their next preemptive strike in complete disregard of what has been promised as big retaliation... Judeo christian crusade just like bush said from the jump.

I guess they figure between the UK the US and Israel if they all get in the air at the same time they can all in synchronized fashion drop a the big ones on iran pakistan and NK at the same time. Because with a preemptive planned with promise of nuclear retaliation they have to drop nukes to put the evildoers nukes out first...

buona notte!

[teryang]

4. the neocons in charge

...refer to fulfulling our promises under the 1984 Agreed Framework as providing inducements for bad acts. This is complete bullshit. The agreed framework was to provide a reasonable bridge to the N.Korean economy and infrastructure while it voluntarily gave up its Soviet styled nuclear power plants. Our side stalled on delivery of two reactors which were supposed to completed this year and stopped the 500,000 ton fuel oil deliveries which were meant to compensate for the N.Korean loss of electrical power. We deliberately turned N.Korea into a black hole by breeching the agreement. N.Korea has lost power for irrigation and manufacturing which has compounded the damage of natural diasters since 1984. People are starving and the government officials there often meet by candlelight. We did it. We need to make it right by abiding by our obligations under the Agreed Framework.

We also have cut off our humanitarian food aid to a dribble. Our objective is to topple the N.Korean regime by punishing the N.Korean people who are starving. There has been no good faith negotiation by our side. The reason for our demand for multilateral talks is because we breached a bilateral agreement and don't want to talk about it. Former Sec. of Defense Perry and other experts have stated that a "regime change" approach is wrong and not only unlikely to succeed but most likely to lead to war.

[Muddleoftheroad]

6. We can't stop them

From declaring they are a nuclear state. They lied in the past, so we can't trust them now.

They can declare they are a nuclear state. The rest of the nations in the region should declare them off limits. If they wish to spend money arming their nation and not feeding it, it is their choice.

[LiberalLibra]

7. It is the Drip, Drip, Drip affect of having been named "axis of evil".....

....there will be more.

[Loonman]

5. Sept. 9th

So we could realistically be nuked Sept. 10th.

[bpilgrim]

8. hmmm... guess will have to sign that NON-AGRESSION pact after all ;-)

U.S. May Make N. Korea Nonagression Vow

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=716&e=4&u=/ap/20030722/ap_on_re_as/us_nkorea

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration might be willing to give North Korea (news - web sites) a written guarantee that the United States has no intention of attacking without provocation, the State Department said Tuesday.

At the same time, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the administration is working for a diplomatic solution to the impasse over the North Koreans' nuclear arms program but said it would not give inducements to achieve it.

Spokesman Richard Boucher was asked about a statement early this year by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that the United States was willing to put in writing an assurance against unprovoked attack. "That still stands," Boucher said.

The issue "is not whether the United States provides a piece of paper; the issue is whether North Korea stops developing nuclear weapons, and that's where the focus has to be," Boucher said.

more...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=28713&mesg_id=28713&page=

peace

[Wonder]

9. It seems to me the only way to go

but something tell me they'd rather test all their fun toys first.

on that not it is time to catch some sleep between working on a last minute deadline called in at the end of biz yesterday and that fucking kobe trial and all the big guns they got out in the field I am wasted.

[David__77]

10. China doesn't really fear this.

What China fears is the Washington war party provoking nuclear war on the peninsula. Why should China fear N. Korea having nuclear weapons? They wouldn't use them against China. They wouldn't use them at all, unless attacked. That's what the establishment is afraid of. Any nuclear state increases its sovereignty by raising the stakes of aggression.

[Wonder]

12. They wouldn't use them at all, unless attacked

that is what both NK back a few months ago and now Iran back a year ago made very clear both warned they would retaliate BIG in the event either of the were premptively struck.

[Zolok]

13. No but

IF NK has a nuclear warhead to spare by then no doubt on or about September 9th of this year they will test said weapon.
Undoubtably it'll be an above ground explosion with malign radiological consequences for the region.
From what I read the WH is depending on the PRC to restrain Pyongyang...this has been their line all along.
So far I haven't seen the PRC doning much to avert the crisis.
Frankly I suspect Beijing's good will here, if North Korea can diplomatically humiliate the U.S. then that is good for China and it's freedom of action in the region.
It has yet to be demonstrated that the P.R.C. can't live with a nuclear armed North Korea...after all they lived with 200 Red Army division camped on the other side of the Ussuri River for decade armed with ghod knows how many nukes.