I was skeptical when I heard the news last week, that “senior defense officials” now think North Korea has “put everything in place to conduct a [second nuclear] test without any notice or warning.” After all, wasn’t the first Nork test a total dud?
But the wonks over at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies are warning us: believe the hype.
In early December 2006, intelligence sources indicated activities were underway at the Mount Mantap nuclear test site near the village of Punggye-ri in North Hamgyŏng Province. The activities were first disclosed by South Korean National Assemblyman Chŏng Hyŏng-gŭn of the Grand National Party (GNP or Hannaradang) on December 21. Chŏngs disclosure followed South Korean Defense Minister Kim Chang-sus December 15th admonition to 30 senior military commanders to be thoroughly prepared to counter the possibility of a second or third nuclear test by North Korea. According to National Assemblyman Chong, North Korea had prepared two tunnels under Mount Mantap, and the October 9, 2006 test was conducted in a tunnel on the eastern side of the mountain while recent activities have been at the western tunnel. According to a South Korean government source, the movement of people and vehicles has been detected at the site, and the activities are similar to those that preceded the first test.
National Assemblyman Chong revealed that in December 2006 an unidentified object was moved to the western tunnel entrance and up to 15 people were observed moving about the area. Chong said that the North Koreans were seen constructing a temporary building 10 meters from the tunnel entrance and it is very likely the North Koreans were preparing the tunnel for a nuclear test. Chong also claimed that after the October 9th test in the eastern tunnel, the North Koreans removed the three temporary support buildings near that tunnel entrance and excavated and subsequently filled in a 95-meter long ditch between the buildings and the tunnel, which indicates they could be preparing the eastern tunnel for a future test as well.
I’m not familiar with National Assemblyman Chong’s credibility specifically, but conservative South Korean legislators from the GNP are known for frequently hyperventilating about the North.
It would be more interesting to see whether the opinions of the U.S. intel community converge around a test or no test conclusion.
Arms Control Wonk had a great line…
During the Clinton Era, when North Korea didn’t have much fissile material…
“What should the response be if North Korea tests a nuke?“
“Tell them to test the other one.”
The UN and everyone else are allowing the north to conduct such testing. Duds or success, either way the north knows the US can’t do a thing to stop them when China and other Countries alike are stalling with sanctions. Just like Iraq, we give them way too much time to complete tests or hide WMD’s. It’s time the US thinks about withdrawling from this chicken shit UN and take matters into our on hands.
As a veteran of the Vietnam war, some of us wondered if Russia or China would supply Hanoi with a nuke. That was during TET.
If Canada, was our enemy, and began testing nukes, I think we’d rspond the same way as South Korea .… I am a child of pre Korea, does anyone remember the fear, drills at schools, and bomb shelters while we waited for the Russians to air mail just one nuke?
As any soldier will tell you, especially a combat vet, a weapon in the right hands will be used, and used for the sole purpose of killing you. Unlike the Chineese and the Russians we never put our weaponry on parade to display to the world what we have, and that’s what North Korea is doing now, making sure the world knows that they have the capability, and maybe, just maybe the slight of hand of a “dud”, is what we were supposed to see, while a working arsenal from China sits and waits for the right mood.
It is in my opinion that we have unfinished business with North Korea. if it has been determined that they do indeed have the capabilities to make and launch a nuclear weapon from North Korea to ay where in the world then we have an obligation to our own populas to use what ever means nessecary to eradicate the enemy. like wise with Iraq we shouldve gone in to conquer. If we havent learned one thing from this war it this we are fighting ideas, religious prejudice, and more than just the Iraqi people , the surrounding countries have found a way to try to demoralise our military by putting the fear of these insurgences in the mix. my opinion is to conquer first dont give power back to a nation who considers you the enemy, the infidel, anyway. my brothers and fellow countrymens blood is being spilled on a daily basis. lets just pray that in the future their blodd didnt spill in vain !!!!!
Stalling at the UN? how can you say that, dont you watch the news? there’s no stalling! China is violating the sanctions on Iran by developing gas fields and suppling money, could that be including arms for defense of those fields too!
That’s not stalling! I hate to say this, and I am a RVN vet, but I think we should just pull our troops back, and just retaliate with complete economic destruction on on these countries that want to destroy us or their neighbors. The UN is a useless waste of US Funds.
Iraq, needs to be taken care of once and for all. We need to go in with a lot more troops as in another 100,000 and take of business and then get on with business. The NEWS was great to hear we are increasing the strength of the services again. Now we need to continue with the strength, not reduce! President Bush is doing the right thing!
The American Fighting Man (or Women) knows only one way to fight a war’ “Hit Hard and Fast, Go thru the opponent, Grab the leadership by the neck and say YOUR THRU”. Every time the politicans
try to “Settle” the conflict it’s failed. Recent Example “Desert Storm” (Sadam should have been taken out then)Result? 10 years later we had to finish the job. Next: Korea (Police Action? My.…Eye) Political Settlement? Result: Nukes! and May I remind you that N Korea DOSE NOT have a history of keeping thier weapons to themselves.
and Don’t get Me started on Nam.
Message to the politicians :If you pick a fight and send us in, STAY OUT OF IT! WE will call you when its over.
To Quote MacArthur :How do you Bomb half a Bridge?
Have you folks lost your collective minds??? I have a total of five years spread out across three tours in the Army in the Republic of Korea and let’s get one thing straight.
First on the attitude of South Korean populous in general. Yes, there are demonstrations against us, just like there are virtually everywhere else in the world and yes they get all the media attention the the world can muster. Having said that, I equate these demonstration to the media coverage over in Iraq (i.e., show the public the death and destruction — it sells papers).
Just for once, I would love to see the mass media show us the entire story; in Iraq — the embrace of the general population; the rebuilding of the roads, electricity grid, health care systems, the education system. In Korea, the general love and admiration that the Korean people have for us Americans. I have travelled to virtually every part of South Korea and have never found anything but general acceptance from these folks. I’ve dined with them, I’ve been brought into their house, I’ve been truly taken in by these people and no I’m not talking about the local businessmen outside of the military installations trying to hawk their wares, I’m talking about the country folk, the people throughout the country.
I equate the demonstrations (In South Korea) similar to what we saw in our own great country during the Vietnam War — there are a few vocal (primarilly) college kids standing up and shouting — it gives them a feeling of independance. Yes, there was recently some demonstration in Pyongteak, where the U.S. is moving their headquarters, but once again, these were primarilly led by a few radical, that bussed in and NOT the general populous in Pyongteak.
As for all out war with the North — folks this is NOT Iraq and it’s not the desert. This is very mountainous terrain and we’d not be able to simply go in and carpet bomb them into submission. North Korea has spent literally decades building an extensive tunnel system throughout those mountains…
Does anyone remember Bora Bora??? Our best and brightest were unable to find and stop Osama bin Ladin there, why would you think it would be any easier to find an enemy in the mountains of North Korea?
Now, you couple that with the resistance of a truly brainwashed people — Kim (and his father) have been in power for more than fifty years and during that entire time, the people of North Korea have been fed the lies, lies and more lies about the how great the North Korean leadership is and how terrible the U.S. is and how/why the U.S. is the cause of the dismal life they lead. EVERYTHING they hear is through the North Korean media and filtered by the North Korean government. If you think that Shiite in Northern Iraq are problematic, you ain’t seen nothin’ compared to what we would likely face in North Korea.
Finally, the death and destruction in the event of all out war with North Korea would be unlike anything this world has seen, probably at least since WWII and very possible unparelled in the world history. Seoul, (South) Korea is the second largest city in the world, with nearly 23 million people living in the greater metro area. Seoul also happens to be just 30 mile South of the North Korea and well within artillary striking distance from the North. The reign of hell that would fall down on Seoul would result in a casualty rate unlike anything the world has every experienced — simply unacceptable.
If nothing else can be said about Kim Jung Il, the man is extremely intelligent. I truly believe he would never attack (South Korea) unprovoked — he has got to know that it would end his reign and cost him everything if he every attempted anything like that. However, if we were to make a pre-emptive strike, he’d have nothing to lose.
All of the retoric (coming out of North Korea) that we see today is an attempt to bring his name to the forefront of the World’s populous. Iraq has been getting all the attention and he simply wants his share of the spotlight. It’s sort of like, “Hey don’t forget about me.” type of syndrome.
Kim Jung Il is all about the spotlight… He cannot be in the spotlight if he is not in power and he has to know that if he attempted anything offensive on the Korean pennisula (or elsewhere) it would ultimately mean the end of his rule — he will not let that happen!!!! If on the otherhand, he truly felt that he was in danger of losing his power due to a pre-emptive strike on our part, he would have nothing to lose and most assuredly would want to go out in such a manner that would ensure that his name lived in the History book forever and unlease a barrage against Seoul that would create a destruction unlike anything the world has ever seen once again, unacceptable.
Bottomline — In this particular case, the ends simply do NOT justify war on the Korea Pennisula.
The “cut and run” tactics by both sides of the aisle in Congress is more sickening then usual. they send President Bush is “wounded” and even his own party (my party)is quick to loathe him, so they can catapult over his dead body.
These same people would have mocked President Lincoln in the Civil War. His war polices were total failures for years…the dead in the hundreds of thousands, with no end in sight. It took years for the “enemy” to be defeated…and only due to Lincoln’s dogged determination.…irregardless of the political cost. He was reelected…but only after several military victories just prior to the election.
President Bush knows the threat…and if the truth be known…has put policies in place which have probably already saved all our lives, more then once. Sure he has made mistakes in Iraq…Lincoln did in his war.
The “Vietnam Syndrome” is rampant now…and if allowed to prosper, will cost us this war on terror, and our lives.
The press and the politicians make me sick. John McCain is the only Senator who has the guts, experience, and fortitude to tell it like it is, no matter if it costs him his run at the Presidency. He is more interested in saving the nation.…and the world.
kenneth.hinckley@us.army.mil SGM/USA
excuse me mr dan ross, remember that time we flew their airplanes into their buildings and killed thousands of our own people…wait taht was al-qaeda and saddam. and thanks to the united states military the rest of the world can sleep a little better at night knowing that there are still those who have the balls to fight for your freedom to stay stupid stuff like that. we are the bullies? we took out an evil dictator and tried to install a democracy, it was their choice to not accept our help. and sir they still have electricity and and even more rights now than they ever did. If you would open up your eyes you would realize that most of this insurgents are former fedeyeen(sp?) or come from countries such as iran or syria. and in due time they will get what is coming to them. President Bush as made the correct decision in increasing troops. People are wanted a withdrawal and what they dont realize is this as been happening the past 2 years. this time last year there was nearly 150000 troops in iraq. with the new reinforcements of 21500 our number of soldiers in iraq still will not break 150000. that shows that the democrat plan of pulling out troops has not worked and will not work. As long as our soldiers are volunteering to fight we will continue our presence in iraq until the job is done, and it will end in favor of the United States of America. Mess witht he best and die like the rest. hooah
It is interesting to see how diverse our responses are to what happens around the world and how it may apply to us, take a look around people, WE ARE THE LAST SUPER POWER!!!! There will always be that 10% that hate us because we are strong and they will do whatever they can to inflict pain upon those that our military protects. We are not invincible though and that is where preimptive stikes are in the best interest of national and global security. Iraq will survive, they have been surviving for eons without our help, and korea will survive and rebuild after we end their nuke program. If you are ignorant enough to belives that their nuke tests are for the betterment of their countries resources and power structure, you are an idiot. I have covered many of the postings written here and i belive that with extreme power comes extreme resonsibility. It is our resonsibility to ensure the security of ourselves first before we can reach out and help others around the globe. We as a people must no longer slink softly in our blanket of freedom provided by the blood of our troops, but stand tall and support those that have volunteered to go to war so that we may enjoy the liberties we take for granted everyday.
SEMPER FI, DO OR DIE!!!!
Bottom line is that the nuclear genie is out of the bottle and has been for more than forty years. It’s just that this time a sworn enemy of the U.S. has rubbed the lamp. Iran, too, will soon rub the lamp.
So let’s decide now: are we going to do WHATEVER it takes (and I mean whatever — if you’re squeamish go home) to keep the nuclear genie from getting out again or not? If are prepared to do whatever it takes then ENOUGH already — let’s rock-n-roll; if no then let’s shut up and prepare for the consequences.
Moshe ben Maimon once said something to the effect of “the fear of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision”.
Coop
To Mr Dan Ross
You need to get right on down to your local mental health provider, and tell them you have serious issues. This has nothing to do with your post, I went to your website. I beleive you may be schizophrenic or paranoid with delusional properties(SIC?). JMHO.
Weakness is the root of Defeat, Remember that. History proves that a withdrawl only means surrender, and you can’t fight a politicaly correct war. Take Viet Nam or what about the Korean war. We are STILL at war with North Korea and it’s sixty years later, we are still talking about going back to finish the job. You think a withdrawl from Iraq is going to be any different. We have been back there twice now, are we going to go for a third.
Don’t forget we need a base there to counter Syria and Iran, since we pulled out of Saudi Arabia. And Don’t let the peace mongers BS you.
Egypt, Turkey, the UAE, Jorden the Saudies as well as Isreal are all shivering in their boots about Iran getting the bomb, they just don’t want to show their hands until they know that we will be there for them.
That is why we have Iran surrounded on both sides with our bases in Afganistan and Iraq. What we do in Iraq will set the tone for our relations with all countries it the reagion. So we better think about why we need to be there.
Mike has it absolutely right. I am a vet of the Korean war as well as a nuclear weapons expert with 10 years in the field. We must halt Iran and North Korea in their perfection of nuclear weapons. If not Iraq, Where? If not now, when? If no by force, how? If we just keep giving in, who are we going to blame when we lose a city with a half million people? It is inevitable that we will lose a city because we are not and will not be able to defend ourselves against a plane with a suicidal crew, with a nuke in their cargo bay. The islamist jihad will continue to spend their worthless lives committing suicide attempting to hit us with telling blows. North Korea continues to be run by madmen after we failed to bomb them out of existance 53 years ago. Truman was wrong in his battle with MacArthur! Fight wars to win like WWII, not by public opinion sold us by newspersons who got their degrees from schools run by the “antiwar” draft dodgers that spat on servicemen during the Vietnam days.
It is time to throw political correctness right into the garbage. If it walks like terrorist, talks like a terrorist, and acts like a terrorist, than it is a terrorist.
We here in this great nation (USA) need to start to understand that these radical ideologies around the globe, and within, are a huge threat. We need to eliminate them before they eliminate us. “THEY WANT TO KILL US” as they outspokenly display. Do not think for one moment that these people are not within our borders acting as they like us and and want to enjoy our way of life.
Again, we need to throw out political correctness and quit being nice. We need to stop letting these people come into our country to utilize our resources and benefits. We need to kick them all out or put them into camps like we did to the Japanese in WWII.
As for N. Korea, I think we need to try to enforce sanctions and the like before resorting to military action.
As for IRAQ, I have had mixed emotions, but even as a democrat I think Bush is on the right track. We need to increase troops and fight them in their region of the world. This, at least keeps the enemy over there for the most part. When the insurgency from neighboring countries come to fight our troops in Iraq, then we can eliminate them there and not have to worry about them coming on our soil.
Spoken my peace, USN Gulf Vet
Coop,
Sworn enemies of the United States have had nuclear weapons since the 60s. The Soviet Union is a sworn enemy (and they are NOT “former;” read New Lies for Old and The Perestroika Deception, both by former KGB agent Anatoliy Golitsyn), and so is Red China
I’d humbly submit that war is not the answer to everything. I say let them have a bomb, so what. No one has used one but us. As for “maniacs who’d do anything to attack us”, WE attacked them, they didn’t attack us; WE named North Korea as an enemy, they didn’t name us; WE threaten Syria and Iran, they didn’t threaten us. Thank Almighty God that we are running out of money to bomb third world villages– all that remains is our descent into fascism, which comments on this thread indicate is not far, and we can self destruct instead of damaging the poor of the earth.
There is an easier way to solve the worlds problems.
Muslim males should be sterilized. If done discreetly (by means of introduction via water or food sources, then by the time they find out their population will already be in jeopardy.
As for North Korea, simply nuke their “nuclear mountain” and show them what a real nuke will do while simultaneously nuking their nuclear facilities.
Simultaneously, allow Israel to destroy Iran’s facilities with nuke bunker busters.
Five minutes later make a speech at the UN.
Nip it in the bud now. Let’s not spend another dime on politics and soldiers lives. Let’s take it to them hard, quick and effective.
Let’s end this.
Okay, we’ve known all along that certain countries have had or were close to having nuclear weapons capabilities. Anyone who claims otherwise is either walking around with blinders on or has their head stuck deep in the sand doing their best Ostrich imitation.
What did we (the US) do? Attack the country that we dang well knew DID NOT have same.
And for people to continue to post claims that Iraq had something to do with 9–11 is ludicrious. They had about as much to do with the events of that day as they had a credible WMD arsenal.
I’ll never be one to say that Hussein was a saint but there are other countries in that region of the world (as well as North Korea) that fit the description for why we invade Iraq but we did not take them on.
Instead, we invaded the country that, as our proxy, fought a protracted war with Iran …
Hey Al–
They have proven they don’t need a bomb to slaughter innocents. They fly airplanes into buildings and blow up people who have never harmed them. Fascists? Please read the dictionary! Fascist force a certain way of life and value on others. America has been a land of tolerance; the mid east is as fascist as they get. Don’t believe the way I do? I cut off your head! Your wife doesn’t cover herself? Cut her head off! Women should not be educated. Women cannot be given adequate health care for reiligious reasons.
They prey on the weak minded and poor, promising a heaven they will never experience. When was the last time a Muslim organization helped with relief for a disaster, partilcularly one in the US? NEVER. How many millions of people have we helped over the years with humanitarian aid, money and health care when possible? COUNTLESS. The only resemblence to fascism our ops in Iraq have is that we will do what we have to ensure our liberties are not compromised by some lunatic.
Give peace a chance, then kill them all and let God sort them out
Personally, my preferance is if these countries really want a nuke missile, let’s send them one or two if we feel a second one is needed. AIR MAIL!!SPECIAL DELIVERY!! RUSH
If we really want to open the doors of diplomacy we should offer the unresponsive scroundels the opportunity to recieve the ultimate they desire.
As for Iraq, years late, and 500 100lb shells of mustard and blister agent chemical agents sounds like WMDs to me.
Has anyone yet come up with the cargo of heavyloaded trains in the middle of the night into Syria? (As our troops entered the other end of the country)
Diplomacy is dead if we don’t show a strong hand. Offer a weak limp wristed hand, and they will disdain the offer and tromp all over it given the chance.