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Down Under
Aussies shrug off NKor nuclear 'threat'
2003-07-15
The Federal Government has dismissed warnings that Australia could face a nuclear strike from North Korea if it intercepts ships believed to be carrying nuclear weapons. The executive director of the Centre for Korean-American Peace, Kim Myong-Chol, has warned that if Australia interdicts North Korean ships, North Korea will retaliate with a nuclear missile attack.
Only in the Hermit Kingdom would the director of a Center for Peace threaten nuclear war...
Prime Minister John Howard, in the Philippines on his Asian tour, says Mr Myong-Chol has no authority. "The unofficial spokesman — well he doesn't have a lot of credibility," Mr Howard said. "He's made these sort of statements before and I don't intend to react to rhetoric of that kind."
"They're bullies, just not very good bullies..."
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Mr Myong-Chol is a self-appointed voice belonging to a North Korean support group in Japan. A senior fellow at the Australian National University's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Alan Dupont, says a nuclear attack is highly unlikely. "North Korea technically doesn't have the capability to target Australia because technically the range of the missiles is much shorter than would be required to get here," Dr Dupont said. "I think this is a little bit of bluster here designed to put pressure back on the countries which are trying to actually do something about the illegal trade in nuclear material and missile technology."
I think they're frothing at the mouth, myself...
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#7  Sounds like an alternate begining for "Mad Max"
Posted by: Yosemite Sam   2003-7-15 6:03:19 PM  

#6  Never underestimate the potential of havoc of a foaming raging lunatic. The NorKs would fall in jig time if the ChiComs and the SorKs SKors quit supplying them. God, I hate appeasment! If the NorKs fall, this cuts Iran and others including PakLand off of alot of nuke and rocket technology.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-7-15 3:37:22 PM  

#5  Do Australians like their Kim Jong Ils baked to a delicate crunch? Or quick-fried to a crackly crunch?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2003-7-15 2:51:15 PM  

#4  Rutherford, if we don't, I will be one seriously pissed off, spittin' nails Merkin.
Posted by: Ptah   2003-7-15 10:53:48 AM  

#3  ...and besides our buddys across the Pacific have those things too and if NK sends one our way the world will be missing North Korea.
Posted by: Rutherford   2003-7-15 9:32:59 AM  

#2  Nuclear weapons, blah, blah, blah, Sea of Fire(TM), blah, blah, blah, nuclear missiles, blah, blah, blah... They sure talk a good fight, don't they? Reminds me of the old game Civilization II: "Our words are backed by nuclear weapons!"

Only the AI in that game was far smarter than anybody in Kim Jong Il's regime.
Posted by: Dar   2003-7-15 8:21:12 AM  

#1  I guess the NKers don't realize that "spokesmen" that blather on without even the techno expertise to know their rantings (notice the Rantburg plug) are silly and impossible, just make the country seem impotent and weak. I think its time to isolate and conquer the Nothern peninsula and get it over with!!! Just cause they "may" have nukes doesn't mean they need to be swinging then round pointing at everyone like little children!

G'day Mate and good for Ya Down Under!
Posted by: Fiddler   2003-7-15 1:49:40 AM  

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