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China-Japan-Koreas
N. Korea Threatens to Test Nuclear Weapon
2004-06-25
North Korea told the United States on Thursday that it would test a nuclear weapon unless Washington accepted Pyongyang's proposal for a freeze on its atomic program, a senior administration official said.
So could Japan, for that matter. And Taiwan.
Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan spoke with Assistant Secretary of State James A. Kelly in a 2 1/2-hour private discussion in China, where a six-nation conference is being held on the long-running impasse over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. The senior administration official said the North Korean threat suggested that the Beijing discussions were headed toward failure. The conference ends on Friday with the issuance of a communique. There was no indication of when North Korea might carry out its reported threat to test. The United States is uncertain as to how many weapons North Korea possesses, but thinks it has at least one or two with the potential for several more. Near the end of their discussion, Kelly told Kim that there was little trust in Washington for North Korea and that Kim's statements wouldn't improve matters, the senior official said.
The NKors are still acting like little big men.
Thursday's discussion with Kim was not the first time that a North Korean diplomat issued a nuclear test threat. A similar warning came during a meeting between North Korean diplomat Ri Gun and Kelly 14 months ago, also in Beijing. During a closed plenary meeting on Thursday, North Korea demanded massive energy aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze, the Kyodo news agency of Japan reported, citing diplomatic sources. The report said Pyongyang asked for 2,000 megawatts of power per year - an estimated one-fourth of its current total consumption. In the United States, a megawatt can supply power to about 1,000 homes.
This means that the total power consumption in an average NKor home is about a 10 watt light bulb.
Boucher refused comment on the reported proposal. "The most concrete...and specific proposal on the table is that made by the United States yesterday with the support of other governments who were there," Boucher said. "We look to the North Koreans to study that proposal seriously," he said. Kim said earlier during the conference that his government has been developing nuclear weapons for protection from possible U.S. attack. "If the United States gives up its hostile policy toward us ... we are prepared to give up in a transparent way all plans related to nuclear weapons," he said. Both Japan and South Korea say they would consider giving the North fuel oil if it freezes its nuclear program as a step toward its eventual dismantling. Russia would be willing to help provide energy aid and security guarantees, said Russian envoy Alexander Alexeyev, according to the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass. The report did not say what conditions Russia might attach to that offer.
Posted by:Steve White

#31  My God this is frightening! 7/11. Is 7/11 the date that all the sleeper cells activate the "dirty-bomb Slurpee" from coast to coast in every 7/11 in the nation?
Posted by: Sgt.DT   2004-06-25 5:18:50 PM  

#30  has to be delivered by train. Next part of the scheme: how to build tracks from Pyongyang to Los Angeles....

D'oh!
Posted by: Frank G   2004-06-25 4:04:15 PM  

#29  3 gets ya 10 that the Norks don't have an air dropable version.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-06-25 4:00:41 PM  

#28  My God, Dr. Evil, SoKOr. Of course. I must really learn to think outside the box...or should I say border.
Posted by: Zpaz   2004-06-25 2:50:29 PM  

#27  Heck, I figured if they're going to test it, they'll test it in South Korea. They won't have to worry about clean up then. I really like Old Spook's idea of 'boosting' their test a bit. That would be hilarious.
Posted by: Silentbrick   2004-06-25 2:43:16 PM  

#26  Where exactly is he proposing to carry out this test? As malleable and expandable as it is, he is pushing even Bill Richardson's credultity. I know some previously irradiated land outside of Vegas he can use, but I don't think he can afford the rent. Anybody notice a million starving peasants with pick axes digging a big hole in NorK for an underground test? The hole will come in handy after the test to bury the same peasants who starved to death in the effort. We call that multi-tasking in the West. Did he pick up a bargain deserted island in the Pacific on e-bay recently? I did not know Marlon Brando was selling his.
Posted by: Zpaz   2004-06-25 2:40:51 PM  

#25  I think the US should wait for the UN to get involved. We don't want to look like we are acting unilaterally. That would be Wrong™.
Posted by: Chris W.   2004-06-25 1:05:37 PM  

#24  Mock my superstitious self if you want,#18, but with regards to ex-pats planning to exit Saudi Arabia, the sub-set discussion, if there is a choice on changing plane ticket dates, I'd do a pass on 7/11. Frank, however, you can still go to work because my crystal ball only works for S.A.
Posted by: rex   2004-06-25 12:55:02 PM  

#23  RWV---I have one of those handy-dandy Nuclear Blast Effects Computers, created by the Lovelace Foundation. Quite the macabre little circular slide rule. The back side is the most weird part, with red scales showing the amount of radiation and burn effects based upon calculations from the other side of the rule. I got mine from a late physicist at UW, but I have seen them on the ubiquitous EBAY.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-06-25 12:40:53 PM  

#22  I'd avoid doing anything on July 11. Call me superstitious, but it seems that AQ has a fondness for odd numbers and 11: 9/11: 3/11:

Ummagosh. 7-11. Its all becoming clear now. No more slurpy's for me.
Posted by: Zpaz   2004-06-25 12:40:42 PM  

#21  Old Spook, you've made my day. Do you still have the circular slide rule weapons effects calculator that came in the back of the book? I've been away from it for awhile, but I think testing one of our old B53s set for ground burst on Kim's palace in Pyongyang might be appropriate.
Posted by: RWV   2004-06-25 12:12:15 PM  

#20  OldSpook...Now I have an ice cream headache.
Posted by: Dragon Fly   2004-06-25 11:47:57 AM  

#19  Ask them if they would like to 'test' one of ours as well.......
Posted by: CrazyFool   2004-06-25 10:20:24 AM  

#18  so, Rex, I should stay home from work on Sunday, the 11th?
Posted by: Frank G   2004-06-25 9:57:17 AM  

#17  A4617 - Glad to hear you're so short. I dunno about empty seats, though...

I have a good friend who was up in the rarified air of NammyCo (now lolling about in decadent Asia with his wife - they left when I did, heh) and I've asked him to check with his Exec friends for a lowdown on the exodus. How bad now and any predictions they care to make. You know Nayef's statement didn't just pop out of a vacuum.
Posted by: .com   2004-06-25 2:13:44 AM  

#16  I'd avoid doing anything on July 11. Call me superstitious, but it seems that AQ has a fondness for odd numbers and 11: 9/11: 3/11:
Posted by: rex   2004-06-25 2:08:45 AM  

#15  Our tickets are for July 21st but I think there exists the possibility of moving up this date. Most families are leaving the first week of July, therefore a lot of seats might become available after that.
Posted by: Anonymous4617   2004-06-25 2:03:40 AM  

#14  this seems an obvious ploy for aid, why not compromise.

Are you serious???
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-06-25 1:49:38 AM  

#13  I echo your observation: if true, then lines / time wait will make it a non-starter... and I'll believe it when I see it.

Though I can picture mercenaries, er, excuse me bodyguard agencies set up - getting such "permits" - as long as Prince Nayef holds the franchise concession for KSA.

When are you outta there?
Posted by: .com   2004-06-25 1:43:52 AM  

#12  
.com, OT:

Did you see the arcticle on Saudi Arabia allowing expats to carry guns? Do you think is true?
Posted by: Anonymous4617   2004-06-25 1:28:07 AM  

#11  Blow some shit up why don't you, do it tonight. Japan will just bow down, don't you think?

Slave states, is there nothing they don't know.
Posted by: Lucky   2004-06-25 1:24:19 AM  

#10  FYI: (near surface airburst assumed, with the reflected wave effects adding to overpressure and firestorm).

20KT
Area of Exposure = 13.52 square kilometers = 5.22 sq. miles.

Blast area = 1.629237 mi**2 = 4.218094 km**2 at 5 psi. 5 psi detstroys frame & brick houses, low concrete survives.

Crater 500 Ft, Fireball 700 Ft or so, total destruction about 3/4 of a mile radius.

50MT

Crater about 1+1/2 Miles, Fireball 3+1/2 miles. total destruction 10+ miles.

Resultant fireball is of much larger duration and temperatures approach the plasma temperature of the sun.

This does not take into account gamma, neutron and other fluxces, and residual multi-Rad/Hr radiation dosing.

They have a 5 mile area cleared for thier 20KT test, and that ends up barely big enough to contain the fireball.


Not going to happen, but what a thought it would be to pop their cork for them in such a manner.
Posted by: OldSpook   2004-06-25 1:21:29 AM  

#9  this seems an obvious ploy for aid, why not compromise. let them do the testing at a place of our choosing and give them the wheat. are NK arms politically correct or should we just have it secured in a swiss safety deposit box?
Posted by: tito   2004-06-25 1:20:46 AM  

#8  OS - Contemplating a time on target exercise, perhaps?
Posted by: .com   2004-06-25 1:20:34 AM  

#7  North Korea told the United States on Thursday that it would test a nuclear weapon unless Washington accepted Pyongyang's proposal for a freeze on its atomic program, a senior administration official said.

"Freezing" the program means all of NK's facilities stay in place. Sorry buddy, no dice.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-06-25 1:11:08 AM  

#6  Just make sure they tell us when and where the test will be.

"Golly Kimmie, looks like you guys made a REAL nuke! We dont know how you got a 50MT Fusion yield out of a 10KT fission device. Too bad you wiped out all your research instruments and irradiated half your country..."

[evil grin]
Posted by: OldSpook   2004-06-25 1:08:55 AM  

#5  During a closed plenary meeting on Thursday, North Korea demanded massive energy aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze...

This is the same thing that was proposed before, and the Norks welshed on the deal. Fooled one time shame on you. Fooled twice shame on me. Let the Chicoms or anyone else keep the Norks from going under with their own nickels.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-06-25 12:55:44 AM  

#4  we should call their hand and tell them go ahead test..then china's card will be called and japan will go nuke...not in the chicoms longterm interest....
Posted by: Dan   2004-06-25 12:53:37 AM  

#3  Hey, NorKs, I got your test right here.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-06-25 12:51:58 AM  

#2  Russia would be willing to help provide energy aid and security guarantees, said Russian envoy Alexander Alexeyev, according to the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass.
Russia giving security guarantees on NK's behalf...he,he...yesterday it was Iran sticking out its tongue at us and today it's Iran's evil twin that's doing it. Then to make us feel better about this nonsense out of the woodwork pops our former enemy [whose blue eyes we should trust] to be the peace broker. This is like a Judith Viorst Terrible No Good Very Bad Day.
Posted by: rex   2004-06-25 12:46:59 AM  

#1  The NoKos are incurable a-holes. More blackmail, pehaps Mad Albright could make a cameo visit and tweek the glorious leader on the ass.
Posted by: Capt America   2004-06-25 12:46:30 AM  

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