North Korea says it conducted nuclear test

[Sigaba]

Source is here.

North Korea says it conducted nuclear test
From the Associated Press

8:13 PM PDT, May 24, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea says it has successfully conducted a nuclear test.

The country's official Korean Central News Agency reported that the test was carried out Monday.

Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the South Korean president, says that a nuclear test may have been carried out in the North.

President Lee Myung-bak has called an emergency security session.

Another report. Source is here.

May 24, 2009
North Korea Conducts Its Second Nuclear Test
By REUTERS

Filed at 11:10 p.m. ET

SEOUL, May 25 (Reuters) - North Korea said it had successfully conducted a nuclear test on Monday, raising the explosive power and level of control of its nuclear device to a new level, its state media said.

"We have successfully conducted another nuclear test on May 25 as part of the republic's measures to strengthen its nuclear deterrent," the North's official KCNA news agency said.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency also quoted a ruling party official as saying that a test was conducted.

YTN Television quoted the South Korean weather agency as saying it detected a tremor indicating a test at 0054 GMT.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak had called an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers over the test, Yonhap said.

North Korea had recently said it would again test a nuclear device -- its first was in October 2006 -- in reaction to tightened international sanctions after it fired a long-range rocket in April.

News of the test hit South Korean financial markets, sending the main KOSPI share index down four percent in late morning trade, while the won dropped more than 1 percent against the dollar.

Back in the early 1990s, when Professor Robert Divine would quip that someday we'd miss the Cold War, I'd scoff inwardly and write something snarky in my notes. Now?

[Pete S]

"North Korea says it has successfully conducted a nuclear test."

Well North Korea says a lot of things.

[Sigaba]

Pete S., I would like to agree with you that this all just more talk from North Korea. However....

Source is here. [The statement is not presently available at whitehouse.gov. What happened to the tech savy administration?]

Not exactly a 3 a.m. phone call to the White house.

But a 2:10 a.m. statement from the White House of President Barack Obama regarding the urgent situation in North Korea. The president calls the situation on the Korean peninsula a matter of "grave concern."

The statement attributed to the president calls North Korea's announced nuclear test and suspected missile test "blatant defiance" of the U.N. Security Council that "directly and recklessly" challenges the international community, increasing regional tensions and deepening North Korea's isolation.

It's unusual for the White House to publish such a statement in the middle of the night. But, of course, in Asia, it's Monday now and not a Memorial Day Holiday.

Shortly before the presidential statement the State Department had issued one also expressing "grave concern" over the reported test.Twelve minutes later the White House produced its own statement on behalf of the president, an obvious escalation of concern and importance.

The full text of the president's statement is below.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Statement from the President Regarding North Korea

Today, North Korea said that it has conducted a nuclear test in violation of international law. It appears to also have attempted a short range missile launch. These actions, while not a surprise given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations. North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security.

By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea's behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia. Such provocations will only serve to deepen North Korea's isolation. It will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community. We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the Six-Party Talks as well as other members of the U.N. Security Council in the days ahead. ###

[Pete S]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

Short story, this is a reality check for the current administration and they are lost on what to do or say. Just my opinion and I hope I am wrong.

It's not such a nice world after all Mr. President.

It will take nuclear strike on a neighbor or invasion of the South for POTUS to do anything of substance.

He will most likely differ to the UN for any actions.
Not necessarily a bad thing, except that they won't do anything of substance either.

[Fiercely Loyal]

HMMM.... Thinking Pete has the POTUS down pat. Barring troop movement into S. Korea or a missile strike launched I do not think we are going to do anything. Who wants new deployments to Korea (in addition to our current rotations)? Not me. Lets finish Afghanistan, Iraq, Blakans, Phillipines, and all the other hand in the pots places first.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

They are probably sitting around texting each other wondering why North Korea is acting this way. After all he is a man of peace and wants to talk all out diffrances out. Short story, this is a reality check for the current administration and they are lost on what to do or say. Just my opinion and I hope I am wrong.

BO,

Good point,and IMHO I don't think your wrong......

GB TFS

[Sdiver]

Well, the USGS confirmed there was a 4.7 quake in N. Korea.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/.../10/130_40.php

Looks as if it's not "All Talk" from the NK's this time. Looks as if this devise worked far better than their fizzle in 2006.

Okay Barry.....what ya gonna do.

[Sigaba]

Source is here.

Russia fears Korea conflict could go nuclear - Ifax
Wed May 27, 2009 4:48pm IST

By Oleg Shchedrov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is taking security measures as a precaution against the possibility tension over North Korea could escalate into nuclear war, news agencies quoted officials as saying on Wednesday.

Interfax quoted an unnamed security source as saying a stand-off triggered by Pyongyang's nuclear test on Monday could affect the security of Russia's far eastern regions, which border North Korea.

"The need has emerged for an appropriate package of precautionary measures," the source said.

"We are not talking about stepping up military efforts but rather about measures in case a military conflict, perhaps with the use of nuclear weapons, flares up on the Korean Peninsula," he added. The official did not elaborate further.

North Korea has responded to international condemnation of its nuclear test and a threat of new U.N. sanctions by saying it is no longer bound by an armistice signed with South Korea at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Russian Foreign Ministry official as saying the "war of nerves" over North Korea should not be allowed to grow into a military conflict, a reference to Pyongyang's decision to drop out of the armistice deal.

"DANGEROUS BRINKMANSHIP"

"We assume that a dangerous brinkmanship, a war of nerves, is under way, but it will not grow into a hot war," the official told Tass. "Restraint is needed."

The Foreign Ministry often uses statements sourced to unnamed officials, released through official news agencies, to lay down its position on sensitive issues.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned the North Korean tests but his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has warned the international community against hasty decisions.

Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council which is preparing to discuss the latest stand-off over the peninsula.

In the past, Moscow has been reluctant to support Western calls for sanctions. But Russian officials in the United Nations have said that this time the authority of the international body is at stake.

Medvedev told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who called him on Wednesday, that Russia was prepared to work with Seoul on a new U.N. Security Council resolution and to revive international talks on the North Korean nuclear issue.

"The heads of state noted that the nuclear test conducted by North Korea on Monday is a direct violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution and impedes international law," a Kremlin press release said.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Source is here.

Sigaba,

That's just great that Russia is upset about this....... Let them go in and do something about it........

GB TFS

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

Sigaba,

That's just great that Russia is upset about this....... Let them go in and do something about it........

GB TFS

GB TFS--

My take on the article is that Russia is going to sit on the fence and see which way the winds blow before weighing in. That way, the Russians can say "See, we're a great power still: we solved this crisis."

Meanwhile (source)...

NKorea threatens to attack US, SKorean warships

May 27, 9:51 AM (ET)

By HYUNG-JIN KIM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea threatened military action Wednesday against U.S. and South Korean warships plying the waters near the Koreas' disputed maritime border, raising the specter of a naval clash just days after the regime's underground nuclear test.

Pyongyang, reacting angrily to Seoul's decision to join an international program to intercept ships suspected of aiding nuclear proliferation, called the move tantamount to a declaration of war.

"Now that the South Korean puppets were so ridiculous as to join in the said racket and dare declare a war against compatriots," North Korea is "compelled to take a decisive measure," the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement carried by state media.

Seoul's decision comes at a time when "the state of military confrontation is growing acute and there is constant danger of military conflict," the statement warned.

South Korea's military said Wednesday it was prepared to "respond sternly" to any North Korean provocation.

North Korea's latest belligerence comes as the U.N. Security Council debates how to punish the regime for testing a nuclear bomb Monday in what President Barack Obama called a "blatant violation" of international law.

Ambassadors from the five permanent veto-wielding council members - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - as well as Japan and South Korea were working out the details of a new resolution.

South Korea, divided from the North by a heavily fortified border, had responded to the nuclear test by joining the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led network of nations seeking to stop ships from transporting the materials used in nuclear bombs.

Seoul previously resisted joining the PSI in favor of seeking reconciliation with Pyongyang, but pushed those efforts aside Monday after the nuclear test in the northeast.

North Korea warned Wednesday that any attempt to stop, board or inspect its ships would constitute a "grave violation."

The regime also said it could no longer promise the safety of U.S. and South Korean warships and civilian vessels in the waters near the Korea's western maritime border.

"They should bear in mind that the (North) has tremendous military muscle and its own method of strike able to conquer any targets in its vicinity at one stroke or hit the U.S. on the raw, if necessary," it said.

The maritime border has long been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. North Korea disputes the line unilaterally drawn by the United Nations at the end of the Koreas' three-year war in 1953, and has demanded it be redrawn further south.

The truce signed in 1953 and subsequent military agreements call for both sides to refrain from warfare, but doesn't cover the waters off the west coast.

North Korea has used the maritime border dispute to provoke two deadly naval skirmishes - in 1999 and 2002.

On Wednesday, the regime promised "unimaginable and merciless punishment" for anyone daring to challenge its ships.

Pyongyang also reportedly restarted its weapons-grade nuclear plant, South Korean media said.

The Chosun Ilbo newspaper said U.S. spy satellites detected signs of steam at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex, an indication it may have started reprocessing nuclear fuel. The report, which could not be confirmed, quoted an unidentified government official. South Korea's Yonhap news agency also carried a similar report.

The move would be a major setback for efforts aimed at getting North Korea to disarm.

North Korea had stopped reprocessing fuel rods as part of an international deal. In 2007, it agreed to disable the Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid and demolished a cooling tower at the complex.

The North has about 8,000 spent fuel rods which, if reprocessed, could allow it to harvest 13 to 18 pounds (six to eight kilograms) of plutonium - enough to make at least one nuclear bomb, experts said. North Korea is believed to have enough plutonium for at least a half dozen atomic bombs.

Further ratcheting up tensions, North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles over the past two days, South Korean officials confirmed.

A North Korean newspaper, Minju Joson, said in commentary Wednesday that Pyongyang does not fear repercussions for its actions.

"It is a laughable delusion for the United States to think that it can get us to kneel with sanctions," it said. "We've been living under U.S. sanctions for decades, but have firmly safeguarded our ideology and system while moving our achievements forward. The U.S. sanctions policy toward North Korea is like striking a rock with a rotten egg."

[SF0]

Does the regime really want to be forced to "kneel" with something harsher than sanctions by world super powers? Seems they're gunning for that outcome.

[Richard]

Another new UN program in our future - nukes for food.

Richard's $.02

[Dad]

Originally Posted by Richard

Another new UN program in our future - nukes for food.

Richard's $.02

Richard
Didn't we already try that? Or is my memory slipping

[Richard]

Didn't we already try that? Or is my memory slipping

Kinda...for awhile...until they got off the UN's rotten radish list except in Parade Magazine and a file cabinet full of contingency plans somewhere in PACOM or the Pentagon...their crops failed yet again...their benelovent, self-appointed, people's democratic republic community organizer-in-chief became ill...the natives became hungry yet again and began growing restless...and the MMFICs in their Soviet-styled, oversized, size 2 extra-pointy bus driver's hats decided it was easier to use nuclear blackmail than to give up their power or change their ways.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

[lonepine]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

If my memory is correct NK has a missel with the ability to hit the west coast now. Granted it may hit Canada or Mexico, but it is a threat if I remember the news correctly.

Not quite. They tested one that was supposed to be able to reach the West Coast, but it barely made it to northern Japan. Naturally, the North Koreans called it a resounding success.

More troubling news:

North Korea threatens 'unimaginable and merciless' punishment

North Korea Threatens to Attack South
Pyongyang Also Says Truce Ending War in 1953 Is Invalid
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, May 28, 2009

TOKYO, May 27 -- North Korea vowed Wednesday to attack South Korea if ships from the North are searched as part a U.S.-led effort to stop vessels suspected of carrying missiles or weapons of mass destruction. It also declared that the truce that ended the Korean War in 1953 was no longer valid.

The threat -- unusually broad and bellicose, even by North Korean standards -- came two days after the communist state was condemned by the international community, including longtime allies China and Russia, for testing a second nuclear device in violation of U.N. resolutions. Since Monday, the North has also launched five short-range missiles into the sea off its eastern coast.

The United States, Japan and their European allies are pushing for the adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution that would strengthen sanctions against North Korea for the nuclear test and missile launches, according to Security Council diplomats.

The United States and its allies floated a proposal to expand a list of entities and individuals whose assets might be frozen. It could ban some North Koreans from traveling abroad. They are exploring ways to inspect more North Korean cargo on land and sea, expand an arms embargo and tighten a ban on luxury goods.

They also want to cut North Korea's access to the international banking system. "We are trying to dry out the resources for the military," said a senior U.N. diplomat close to the talks.

Council diplomats say they are still trying to overcome skepticism from Russia and China, which have been reluctant to impose tough economic sanctions. But senior U.N. diplomats say they have shown a new willingness to consider sanctions.

Monday's nuclear test pushed South Korea on Tuesday to join the Proliferation Security Initiative, which was created in 2003 by President George W. Bush and includes more than 90 countries that have agreed to interdict suspicious cargo ships.

On Wednesday, the government of Kim Jong Il went on a rhetorical counterattack. North Korea said it no longer could guarantee the safety of ships from South Korea and other countries sailing in the Yellow Sea off its western coast. It added that it would not honor a North-South border in that sea, which was drawn at the end of the Korean War.

The North also said it would not respect the legal status of five islands on the South's side of the line. Two naval clashes occurred in that area in 1999 and 2002, killing six sailors from South Korea and more than 30 from North Korea. In those skirmishes, North Korea was badly outgunned by the South's more modern weapons.

The armistice that ended the Korean War 56 years ago bars either side from imposing a naval blockade, and North Korea claimed Wednesday that the South had nullified the agreement by joining the anti-proliferation effort.

Since "the U.S. imperialists and [South Korean President] Lee Myung-bak's group of traitors have reneged" on the armistice, North Korea said, it is no longer obligated to obey international law or abide by bilateral agreements.

In Seoul, Lee called for "calm" and told his advisers to "respond with cool-headedness."

Government officials said North Korean ships will continue to be allowed safe passage in South Korean waters, according to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency. Only ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction will be targets of inspections, the officials said.

South Korea, though, has stepped up its surveillance of North Korea and increased its military readiness, according to a statement Wednesday night from the Ministry of Defense. It said that U.S. and South Korean forces "will restrain additional North Korean provocation and manage the current situation towards stability, yet respond firmly to North Korea's possible military provocation." About 28,500 U.S. troops are in South Korea.

Analysts in Seoul regarded North Korea's warnings as serious but doubted the willingness of Kim Jong Il to provoke a large-scale confrontation.

"The problem is that both sides cannot afford to make a concession," said Dong Yong-seung, a senior fellow at the North Korean division of Samsung Economic Research Institute. "It is like a game of chicken."

Andrei Lankov, author of several books about North Korea and a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, said, "Small-scale shooting is possible and even probable, but nothing more serious than that."

"The location of mansions where Pyongyang's leaders enjoy their Hennessy cognac is well known to the American military, and North Koreans know the precision of U.S. cruise missiles," Lankov said. "The North will steer clear of any action which might lead to a real confrontation."

Staff writer Colum Lynch at the United Nations and special correspondent Stella Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

I know NK has made countless threats before, but I really do believe that the regime is being pushed to the breaking point and is running out of options.