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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| N Korea 'may be preparing second test' |
| 2006-10-09 |
| SOUTH Korean authorities suspect that the communist state might be preparing a second nuclear test after unusual activities were detected in a rugged area in North Korea today, a news report said. Kim Seung-Gyu, head of South Korea's spy agency, told parliament that activity involving vehicles and as many as 40 people was under way at Punggyeri in the north-eastern county of Kilju, Yonhap news agency reported. “From 4pm (AEST) today, there have been some unusual movements under way at Punggyeri where we had thought the first nuclear test would be carried out,” Mr Kim was quoted as saying. “We have been closely following developments there to find out whether North Korea is moving to conduct a series of tests as India and Pakistan did,” he said. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #17 I covered this much earlier; If Kim has any brains, he built a couple of these sick puppies and should bang off another one in rapid succession to prove he's got some real nuclear firepower. Otherwise, all he's done is drop his drawers in full view of the world. Posted by Zenster 2006-10-09 04:25 |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-10-09 14:53 |
| #16 They don't, for oil. They almost certainly have futures contracts that can be transferred via third parties, though, which would result in the shipments from suppliers who do. It would mean they continue to have shortfalls, but since they are rumored to have stockpiled a fair amount of refined fuels they may be able to keep that from being visible domestically, except where they want to have shortages to punish dissent. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-09 14:34 |
| #15 I thought Iran didn't have enough refining capacity for its own needs let alone NorK's. I also noticed that both Iran and NorK both seem to like using the phrase "indigenous talent" or something weird like that in regards to developing new weapons. Hmm. |
| Posted by: gorb 2006-10-09 14:26 |
| #14 Yup. Scenario: Teheran is paying in oil and gas up front for test of a device that either the NORKS or Teheran have engineered, using NORK material. With winter coming Pyongyan is delivering the full package in return for energy. China may or may not be a full partner in the trade, but it's not unlikely they are complicit to some degree. Teheran will not want to publicly test until/unless they are certain the device will work. Too much to lose, and they have seismic fault lines all over the country. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-09 14:21 |
| #13 Drudge is reporting that US sources are talking about a second 'seismic event' from the NK area. |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-10-09 14:18 |
| #12 There will be no effective punishment. Those who wish for nuclear weapons now have several recent examples on how to cross the threshold, and in the case of Pakistan, how to attack the US and get Uncle Sam to pay you billions. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-10-09 13:11 |
| #11 China is a major player in world trade. A war in the area, taking the wrong side openly, a crash in the US economy, all these are bad for China. Today China is a capitalist country with a one party political system. This too will pass. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-10-09 13:03 |
| #10 I'm sure Iran is watching intently to see how this is handled. If there is no real punishment, why not build a bomb? |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-10-09 12:24 |
| #9 How about applying sanctsion to SorK for supplying them cement???? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-10-09 11:59 |
| #8 Bingo RC. I'm beginning to entertain the idea that the convergence is to China's benefit. Who feels strong enough to wait in bait for the islamist war to weaken the west? Who supports Iran and is giggling at this NORK test? There may be a different wave acoming behind the splodeydopes. Something more wicked this way comes? |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-10-09 11:54 |
| #7 Either way, Pyongyang demonstrates its partial independence from China, gains much needed economic breathing space and "Stands Tall". Unless the third country in the 3-way deal *IS* China. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-10-09 11:38 |
| #6 Iran does not and will not have much in the way of spare funds to pay for these little fripperies, surely? 3 way deal: Iran sends crude to a 3rd party who passes along the proceeds to NORK. 2 way deal: Iran sends natural gas directly. Either way, Pyongyang demonstrates its partial independence from China, gains much needed economic breathing space and "Stands Tall". So to speak. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-09 11:15 |
| #5 Oil prices went up slightly on reports that OPEC plans on cutting production. Knowledgeable voices here have said they won't be able to hold to that cut, that individual countries too much in need of cash will cheat. Iran does not and will not have much in the way of spare funds to pay for these little fripperies, surely? Especially after paying to rearm Hizb'allah, and possibly the Palestinians? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-10-09 10:36 |
| #4 If at first you don't succeed..... |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-10-09 10:16 |
| #3 And I imagine Iran is footing the bill for the test too.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-10-09 10:15 |
| #2 He's demoing for Iran. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-10-09 10:14 |
| #1 How much do these test cost? How many people in his own country could he feed, without these test? We haven't attacked him for 50 years, why the heck would we do it now (unless he is close to nuclear missiles) |
| Posted by: plainslow 2006-10-09 10:05 |