Material in North Korea's nuclear test unclear, worrying for U.S.
By Jill Dougherty and Pam Benson
More than a month after North Korea tested a nuclear device, the United States is unable to pinpoint whether the regime was able to use uranium to fuel the explosion, a capability that would represent a significantly enhanced nuclear program.
The lack of clarity comes as North Korea ratchets up its bellicose rhetoric each day.
New video broadcast on North Korean television showed the nation's leader, Kim Jong Un, addressing his troops along the border on Monday and issuing a blood-chilling threat, "Throw all enemies into the caldron, break their waists and crack their windpipes." It was the same location he and his late father visited in November 2010, just two days before the North shelled an island, killing four South Koreans.
The bellicose comments have been intensifying over the past months, increasing worry about Kim's unpredictability.
"I am very concerned about what they might do. And they are certainly, if they chose ... could initiate a provocative action against the South," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.
North Korea has threatened a pre-emptive nuclear attack not only on South Korea, but on the United States too. Military and White House officials have said the United States can defend against any such threat. President Barack Obama told ABC news this week that he does not think North Korea can make good on the threat.
"They probably can't, but we don't like margin of error," Obama told ABC News.
That ambiguity is not lost on Sen. Dianne Feinstein. "There's perhaps nowhere else on Earth where the capacity to wreak enormous damage is matched by the possibility of North Korea using their nuclear weapons," the chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee said.
Particularly worrisome are the advancements the North Koreans have made in their nuclear and missile programs. In December, they successfully launched a long-range ballistic missile for the first time under what the United States and other Western nations say was the guise of putting a satellite into orbit.
The United States is concerned that a long-range ballistic missile could be fitted with a nuclear warhead and could be capable of striking the mainland, although experts say North Korea does not yet have the expertise to do so.
And then last month, the Pyongyang regime conducted its third underground nuclear test.
U.S. officials tell CNN they have not determined what kind of nuclear device the north tested underground from its Pung-gye-Ri nuclear test site.
A U.S. intelligence official said "nothing has changed" since the Office of the Director of National Intelligence put out a statement within hours of the February 12 nuclear test indicating the test had an explosive yield of several kilotons.
The U.S. Air Force uses sniffer planes to take air samples after a test in hopes of scooping up radioactive particles that will provide more specific details about the contents. The official's comment indicates the United States has obtained no further information that would help determine the type of nuclear material used, and at this late date, probably would not.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, an international group that monitors nuclear tests, also said it was unable to get a fix on what fissile material was used by the North Koreans and didn't expect it ever would.
"What we are not sure of is if the North Koreans used plutonium, which they used in their earlier tests or highly enriched uranium for this third test," said Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association. "If they used highly enriched uranium, that would be very worrisome because it would suggest they have a larger supply of this material that would allow them to build a larger number of nuclear weapons."
Kimball said detection is always iffy. If the chamber where the explosion takes place deep underground is well-sealed, few particles may be released into the atmosphere. And if samples are gathered, they need to be "relatively fresh and very good" to determine whether it was a plutonium-based or uranium-based explosion.
The type of nuclear material matters because North Korea gave up its production of weapons-grade plutonium six years ago and only has a limited amount of the fissile material in its stocks, enough for approximately six bombs, according to experts. After years of denial, the regime acknowledged in 2010 it had an enriched uranium facility. That's problematic because such facilities are hard to detect and could produce large supplies of highly enriched uranium.
Kimball doesn't like the trend. "They don't yet have the capability to deliver a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile that could reach the U.S. Despite whatever they say, they may soon - in the next two to three years with further testing - be able to deliver a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile that could strike their neighbors," Kimball said.
A North Korean expert believes that Kim Jung Un's regime is playing the international community. "North Korea had done three tests: the ballistic missile, the nuclear and a test of all of us, and the question is, what are we going to do?" said Philip Yun, executive director of the Ploughshares Fund, an anti-nuclear weapons foundation.
The United States and the United Nations have recently imposed additional economic sanctions against North Korea, but so far sanctions have not led to the resumption of talks.
The U.S. special envoy to North Korea says unless the regime is serious about talks and meets its obligations to de-nuclearize, its future will be bleak.
"North Korea will not achieve security, economic prosperity and integration into the international community while it pursues nuclear weapons, while it threatens its neighbors, while it tramples on international norms, abuses its own people and refuses to fulfill its long-standing obligations and commitments," Glyn Davies told a congressional panel. "This is one of the hardest foreign policy problems out there."
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
Tea Party Patriots typically like to get their bagging and birthing done by Friday. This leaves the weekend free for them to watch nascar re-runs, have incestuous relations with their sisters and cousins and maybe even brush their tooth.
Always easy to make fun of someone instead of creating or talking about a real solution. While you talk out both sides of your mouth, a dictator patronizes your own freedom. Keep wishing for peace when a crazy person sticks a missile in their nose. You are very lucky we have people in this country that protect that freedom of yours. And yes, some of those same folks may or may not have perfect teeth like you....
Be sure to point out Lyan Ryan has a full set of healthy teeth, does not commit incest, and is delusional.
Barry go there and talk to this hoodlum, remember you have a gift! you are different from all the others, you can bring the world together...come on Barr off the golf course and into the real game!
On your knees obama, Put him in his place LOL, What a joke..
You and LD sound like the type who'd hook up together nicely and empower each other to commit school mass shootings. Hate and stupidity feeding off each other.
Ollie North can bring a cake and bible.
It worked with Iranians.
Ollie North & North Korea, how sweet it is.
North Korea is nothing more than a bunch of old men following around a punk kid. None of them have the guts to stand up to him.
either does the USA unfortunately..this guy need a rockets up his butt
The North Koreans can't... they are a an unarmed populace with the exception of the huge military. I honestly think a coup would be successful , just like the assasination of Romanian dictator Nicolai Ceausescu and his wife back in the late 80s.Romania moved forward and Communism was gone after the assasination of a dictator that was oppressing his people and putting the country into ruin. In fact, Kim Jug-Un's father that passed away last year, was concerned that could happen and this is one reason why NK is ran the way it is... instill fear in the population, complete Stalinistic and Totalitarian rule, complete government control of everyone makes a coup and overthrow alot harder. North Koreans are brainwashed and isolated to the point they don't know any better so a coup is unlikely. It is sad.
This is all talk, no walk propaganda. we could say with similarity: "Lope off their heads, clip their nuts and place them in a calderon of boiling water."
I say we park about 5 LA class attack subs off their shore and carpet bomb their capital with Polaris Missles – show them what "Raining Bullets" is all about – then you can look at Iran and say "next?"
I couldn't of said it better, lol
Whoa whoa whoa... he would never nuke the US... I'm callin his bluff... I mean c'mon, Rodman lives here!
Kim Jong Un is as mentally unstable as his father and his grandfather. Fed a diet of hate all his life he only thinks about the destruction of his neighbors to the south. His starving population is proof enough of this fact. In the meantime he lives the high life in the privacy of his comfortable estate.
Hatred is an ugly emotion.
Hatred is not an emotion. Its a state of being.
Hatred is a very ugly emotion.
Repeating one's self in a solitary post it is emphisizing one's point... When done in two post and adding that particular empheticle adverb it becomes speaking in the third person sarcasticly. I like it!!!
Their chubby leader said that? Must have been really inspiring for the troops.
Everybody who's so gung-ho about attacking North Korea keeps forgetting about the 9,000-pound gorilla in this room – China. If we nuked North Korea, for example, the fallout from it could blow on over to China and kill Chinese citizens by the tens of thousands. Obviously they wouldn't take kindly to that. I suppose "Oh we'll just kick THEIR asses TOO" would be the standard response to that.
Time I scanned many of the responses on here. No one is saying we nuke them or kick China's ass. So that leaves the questions, who in the hell are you talking to? Maybe your just dramatic.
Yeah, go to war with China too, good one.
i was hoping to find some intelligent conversation here. what was i thinking.
It's better during the day on weekends, I suspect.
So, am I the only one who is more concerned with a nuke in a fishboat/tanker than a 1st gen ballistic missile. We know for SURE the NK's have boating technology and submarines that could be used to deliver anything. Boom in the harbor.
Fungi
they are known for building solid marine technology. I just imagine our military forces thinking similarly.... hopefully
For you daily chuckle, check out the North Korean News – Random Insult Generator (these are all real):
http://www.nk-news.net/extras/insult_generator.php
This guy needs a date really bad!
At first i thought this fat man child was blowing smoke and trying to make a name for himself. But now I'm beginning to think otherwise. Maybe the senile, old NK generals are calling the shots with Kim Jong-Il out of the way. If that's the case and this could be a very dangerous situation. The only thing holding them back is a launch vehicle and enough nuclear material to flatten the South Korean peninsula.
And another fat, bloated f@g who thinks nuclear war is a game.
What holding them back, in addition to primitive technology, is inevitability of retaliation that would put an end to Kim's regime, and no matter how senile the North Korean generals are, they have enough brain cells left to understand that. So, the whole business about North Korean nuclear threat is vastly overblown. All the theater put up by Kim is strictly for internal consumption. Any dictatorship needs an imaginary enemy to hold off internal unrest, and not only a dictatorship, by the way, but that's a topic for another post...
What we need to do is take out Kim with a strategic, surgical strike. Imagine the implications such a move would have for the rest of the world's dictators.
Perhaps we already did in Venezuela...
8 years in Iraq, 12+ years in Afghanistan. Yeah, the world sh!ts its collective pants at our might.
most of their soldiers are very young like 14 yr olds and very old 60- 70 yrs old. WEAK
Feel free to take them on anytime, tough guy.
North Korea has a huge ground military, but their nuclear weapons are the biggest threat. North Korean soldiers are famished, just not as bad as the rest of the country. They do not get proper rations and they are certainly stronger mentally than they are physically, though their parades are very impressive and NK soldiers certainly have more discipline than the Yahoos our military is recruiting. We were all afraid of Iraq's Republican Guard when America got involved in Desert Storm. Come to find out, tens of thousands of Republican Guard troops ended up surrendering to the USA due to lack of supplies, etc. I doubt this will be the case with North Korea but they are indeed a strong ground military. It is my understanding North Korea does not have a Navy or much submarine technology. I think we have them beat in that area.
nuclear weapons ban! oh wait that doesn't work on guns either
Fat Boy,,,Big Mouth,,, are the names of the two North Korean bombs
How does one break a waist?
How does one crack cartilage in the throat?
NUCLEAR BOMB duh lol
North Koreans need a collective enema.
This is all just the usual NK way of political extortion: They make threats – The US gives them a bunch of "Foreign Aid" (wink,wink) – They tone it down until they need more cash – Then the cycle starts all over again.
One would hope, but I think this time is different. While we are all so focused on Iran who has yet to test a device, North Korea has done so twice. Additionally they demonstrated ICBM capability. I think they are loosing control. South Korea will not simply stand by and turn a blind eye as they did last time. A miscalculation will be made. If I wanted to give the US and its allies a really hard time I would start 2 events at once. We diminished out capability to engage in 2 theaters at once so we would be hard pressed to deal with Israel going after Iran while North Korea launches and assault. While in the end we can win against North Korea, Nobody wants this mess. It would be bloody and it would have a huge impact on the global economy. OPLAN 5027 updated many times over the years, describes in detail what will happen. The latest public version however does not address the use of nukes. If North Korea were to use any form of Nuclear weapon we would not respond with nukes. They know full well there are subs parked around that area that have gives them no less than about a 5 min lead time. The damage to the south would be hard to imagine however the North in the end would not exist anymore.
I firmly believe that North Korea already has working Nukes. Yes their development may not be complete, but this assumes that they need to develop their own nuclear program. What keeps them from buying ready-made Nukes from some corrupt General in the defunct USSR, or China for that matter. Heck, they could have gone into China and stole nuclear weapons, or bought them from Pakistan. Anyhow, they have been threatening about using nuclear weapons against the South for years now. I simply doubt that they would make such threats without some way of backing it up. You don't pick a fight with the Biggest kid on the playground unless you think you have a chance of coming out on top. You either have friends waiting to back you up, or have brass knuckles in your back pocket... Don't be shocked when our air tests show that their most recent Nuclear test shows that the material used came from a Nation with a known and active nuclear program..
They may have them....they tested a few, so I believe they may already have them also....
very well said John....this needs to be taken seriously, if we get caught off guard ...this could turn into the beginning of World War III....can you imagine the bloody toll it may take ? .....that's not even counting on the economic impact to this country.
Obviously, this Nuclear facility needs to be bombed by the U.S. We playing this waiting game with this sanction business, meanwhile, they gathering up there Atomic bombs for us!
US and other western diplomats will continue to explain the facts of life to China. "Firm, frank, and persuasive explanations" might remind China on cause and effect so that China will "persuade" N Korea to stop blowing smoke.
Gee, I could have sworn that Obama said the only reason the world didn't like the USA was because of Bush. Looks as though they like us even less under Obama. Who'd have seen THAT coming...
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. News like this is kind of unsettling, especially two weeks after I enlist in the Army. Looks like I'll be going to Korea at some point.
kim,kim,kim...just another smack talking third world dictator wanna be! I bet long term for him is the same as others that have come and gone lately!!
Kim from NK is a nut, a dangerous nut, however your country also has a few nuts around..
I'm not totally covinced ole kim jung dung could be so stupid as to try a nuclear attack...I mean come on now...if they really try to do it they must realize theres no where to hide from the retaliation from one of the largest nuclear arenals in the world!
Common sense would say your right, but I think there's a little bit of insanity at play here. History shows these crazy dictators have little concern about the consequences of their actions. They see people like Hitler and want the fame, fear, and notoriety that he had regardless. Successfully nuking the the US mainland would give him that and more.
If he used what little he had against the south, and by the way the US mainland is out of the question, We would NOT respond with nukes. China is not going to go for that. I think you would see some interaction between China and the USA however. This has been discussed frequently. The plan is probably not perfect but at least its something. And to all those who think this kid is running the show , he's not. He is a front man. The extended family runs the show. They are Bat S&*T Crazy. They will eventually screw up and start something. Meanwhile we are all upset of Iran who has yet to even test anything except killing a monkey by sending him up on a Missile.
Want to prevent America from going into another war of choice ? Activate a NO DEFERMENT DRAFT .... then watch the college campuses explode ....Boys and Girls
As Kerry recently said: " N.Korea is weak, their military is weak, their people are weak, they will run away like frighten children as our bullits begin raining from the sky " (sorry, I made a mistake. He was talking about Iran when he said that)
We need to send his lover Dennis RODman back. Kim Jong has been upset about everything since RODman came back to the states. RODman needs to boink this boi hard this time in the PYONG YANG and stay there.
PH, too bizarre isnt it ? As if N. Korea wasn't socially regressed enouph.
I feel confident that the South Koreans have a contingency plan in place, just in case that North Korea would be stupid enough to attack them. The North Koreans seem to be making more threats than they usually do. It makes me wonder what's really going on in that country.
Crystal, he is no longer make threats. He is making PROMISES to act out UNCONDITIONALY.
What is most illogical about this situation is how would we react if another country (say Iran) was saying and doing the same thing ?!?! And N Korea ALREADY has atomic bombs and are setting them off.
awww, the widdel baby is just twing' to strut his sytuff, prove he is a BAD big boy. too bad this inexperienced child-man has the capabilities to destroy half the world in a temper tantrum
cnn speak for yourself...I'm not worried about N. Korea or anyone else for that matter.
By all mean, ug, keep your head firmly buried in the sand and go about your normal daily routine as if all is fine in the world.
ug, this guy has painted himself into a corner with his own people. He is no longer making threats, he is making promises to his people to act out unconditionally. If he does not not deliver on these promises he will lose big time "face" with his own people.
Kim is just trying to position himself as the guy who stood up to the US. He has made a direct threat to us and our ally South Korea. If he shoots first, fire back with a vengeance at Pyongyang. That is the Washington DC of NK. We should be on a stage of alert to fire at will. NK does not have the ability for a long war. Armament wise or food wise. If the Chinese protest, screw em. I have been trying and succeeding in buying products in America. It can be done! Their economy would collapse.Regarding their military, behind in Naval and Ariel Supremecy,
You're right William. The Americans (and pretty much everybody else) complains about China, but we keep buying their crap products. The best weapon against the Chinese (and NK) is buy your country goods. Maybe chinese are cheaper, but they also last less and have a very poor quality. With chinese goods you need to purchase 3 or 4, but with good made local products, you only purchase one... keep "saving pennies and expending dollars"....
As Bush would say, "We got to smoke em out".
Bush was, and remains, an idiot! He was controlled by Cheney and his friends.
Since leaving office, what has Bush done? Previous former presidents continue to work for the country in some way. NOT Bush! He just hides out on his ranch! Previous vice presidents disappear, NOT Cheney!
Feinstein and Intelligence dont seem to go together in the same sentence.
A threat from a nuclear armed enemy of the USA and all you can think to do is belittle Senator Feinstein? Shame on you.
"TruthBringsFreedom" You need to live by the values existing in your name.
Can't wait for the old bag to pass away, going out to celebrate that weekend!
Your right on target.....
Why? Because she thinks another, more intense war in Asia is a bad idea? If the hawks prevailed we would have been at on almost every continent and probably already in another world war. War is not always the answer...the Korean conflict, Viet Nam. Hopefully, and this is against all my moral upbringing, someone with access will 'take him out' in a manner that appears natural, because if looks like murder it will send their military into a frenzy.
Spoken like the anonymous, belligerent, and uninformed cowardly troll that you are.
Lil Kim could use some 50 cal. therapy.
Level Pyongyang !
Clearly, Dennis Rodman has failed us.
Same shee-it, different shee-iter.
Why all the anger Kim? Is it a small penis issue?
Show us yours. I'm sure it's huge and white LOL.
probably dont even have one LOL,
Message to Kim: Grow the f–k up!
Did you see Kim's rendition of Washington crossing the Delaware ? What a hoot this clown is , he's leaning out the back of some NK version of a bass boat smiling and waving to a bunch of his troops, who are in full uniform garb wading out waist deep in the frigid waters to pay homage and admiration to dough-boy, what this picture doesn't show are the guns pointed at those poor buggers forced into the water.
Well, one thing at least is very obvious to me after reading this article. Kim Jong Un is definitely paving the way for a Team America sequel.
lol...but not funny
Matt Damon!
Hans Bwix
Maybe some other BB player could visit him next time ?
Have you ever noticed that Kim Jong Un looks just like a young "Uncle Fester" but with hair!
HeeHeeHee !!!! True –what a dork !
Guess Dennis Rodman's visit didn't do any good...if anything, his visit inflamed the Nth. Koreans , and now they want to blow us all to heck.
Dennis, Dennis...what were you thinking ?
You feel lucky punk? Well Do Ya? Well just MAKE MY DAY!
Dont forget we got a spineless prez ..
Where is Saddam now? Where is Gaddafi now? Where is Noriega now? Where is Chavez now? ALL TAKING DIRT NAPS and being WORM FOOD.....Unleash the B-1 Bombers and the Nuclear Tipped Cruise Missiles and turn pudgy little fat dicktator into radioactive worm food. The world won't miss him or his people – Let Loose The DAWGS of War.
Amen, brother.
Unfortunately that would kill millions of innocent North Koreans. They are severely oppressed and should be freed. The Kim family have been responsible for millions of North Korean deaths by starvation. They sure as Hell aren't Communists; they are dictators, pure and simple.
An electromagnetic pulse bomb or ten over various parts of the country would wipe out their communications and computing power without killing the people (sort of like the TV show 'Revolution'). Let's see how long the little monster can strut around then before his own people tear him apart.
"I am ferrious wit anger!"
Getting Rearry Mad !
Dear Dear Leader- please don't crack my windpipe! Thanks.
This fool wants to be some kind of badass, and wants to have his own legacy, so he wants to start something with the biggest dog in the yard.
We'll have to break this fool. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when we get tired of his mouth. He's asking for it, and he'll get it, eventually.....
BD
The Obama Administration has created an administration of corruption and incompetence. The EPA is performing human experiments in violation of the Nuremberg Code. Benghazi survivors are being held incommunicado by Obama to prevent the truth of his State Department's incompetence – yes, Hillary and Obama killed Stevens! The Justice Department gave guns to the Mexican Drug Cartels – I guess to insure the supply of drugs to the US Democrat Drug Gangs in Chicago and other major cities. The list goes on.
So, you think Obama should be impeached ??? Sounds like you'd rather see him dead !
Dude, I think your tinfoil hat came loose.
If you or any citizen has proof of this, you are bound by duty as a citizen to deliver that proof (High crimes and misdemeanors) so the trial can begin. Otherwise, you're just one more citizen that talks with his head in his ass.
How much more truth do you need on the Bengazi scandal? Four Americans dead, including two marines, one diplomat and an aide (woman by the way). They were tortured and severely sodomized before death.
These "protesters of a youtube video" numbered in the hundreds and attacked the embassy with RPG's, 30 cals, grenades, and AK-47's according to eye witness reports. A few of these "protesters" interviewed after the incident on condition of aunomity hadn't even heard of or seen the video that our President, Hilary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, etc. vehemently insisted was the fault of a disgusting video and doesn't reflect our country.
If you take the tin foil of you're head realize this. 6 months before the embassy was attacked, these people requested / begged the administration for more security. They got nothing. They asked for permission to use live ammunition in case of an emergency such as this, and the the Obama administration said no. Six hours after the attack began, the Obama Administration continued to do NOTHING and knew the embassy was under attack. They could have flown in navy seals (would have taken an hour) to rescue the embassy underseige. And where was Obama? AWOL
100% off-topic.
"We, as North Koreans, need to punch our enemies ears and break their shoulders!" This guy isn't very good at delivering threats...he needs a new speech writer...
His threats make sense, but only if you don't look at them with Western eyes.
" we will give the American Imperialists a right good bottom smoting " ....or something. These people live in the middle ages.
Wrong KipOliver. His threats only make SENSE if you are a psychopath.
Ok Kip I am squinting.................still doesn't make sense through Oriental eyes.
Cracked windpipes? Is he planning on sitting on us?
Cracked windpipe – a sharp blow to the front of the neck cracking the windpipe resulting in suffocation and death.
Of course..... I am however, confused about the intention behind breaking their waists and the cauldron thing. I also wonder how accurate these translations actually are. How much bias. How many errors. As I understand it, a big problem in the historical American way west, for instance. One can only hope he doesn't plan to eat us.
Seal Team 6 – another Mission, LOL Kimmy might be surprised how easily a 'nuclear mishap' could mess him up – apparently he didn't learn anything being edumicated in the west LOL
He wasn't educated in the West. Possibly high school at a Swiss Boarding school (that has never been confirmed) where he was still kept sequestered from western influences. Primary and College in North Korea. There was no reason for him to have a more illustrious education because he was not the heir apparent. Only after his two brothers were seen as unfit in adulthood did he come to his role.
So this guy was the "pick of the litter?" Talk about failed breeding stock!
Send Kim Jong LaPierre. He'll bond well.
Treat NK like you treat Sarah Palin, just let them keep talking themselves closer and closer to stupid.
If this SOB, Kim Dung Ug, (insult intended) has the guts to face me man to man without the aid of his army, I will cut his damn head off and feed his bogy to swine.
Why such harsh words against Kim Jong Un. You all know that if we get into a war with them you guys will cry inhumanity and atrocities against the North Korea. Protest will emerge in every state and lobby to end the war. Why? Because people forget what amounted to the decision, besides Pres Obama will not go to war it is liberal suicide on 2016 (maybe). We will have Hillary, Reid, and Pelosi runing the country in 2016-2024. I can't wait when they start showing their hidden agendas.
North Korea is to send a nuclear threat into the United States. That is very unlikely and foolish. There is no way possible it would even reach the borders of the U.S. This country (United States) has a very advanced defense system that would stop their crappy nuclear missile. Besides, we have nukes that are at least ten times as powerful as theirs and it doesn’t emit any radiation. They need to get over the past. They wanted to take South Korea. Then, South Korea asked for help. After that it was a conflict that lasted for a few years and eventually stopped at the 38th parallel. Nobody really won any land, but we whooped the crap out of the North Koreans. They need to keep in mind that they are a third-world country.
Being a third-world country North Korea needs to realize that the United States is the world’s most powerful country. With that they have China with the largest military in the world. Also, Germany is now America’s Allie. It is two-generations ahead in technology. North Korea doesn’t stand a chance against the United States. North Korea has also been making this threat to the United States for a while now. It’s really nothing new and nothing to worry about. Another thing to keep in mind is that North Korea doesn’t have enough military equipment to carry out a war if they start a war. It would be very ignorant in the slightest of mind to even dare sending any nuke in the sky.
There are a few more factors to also recognize. One is that if North Korea launches any nukes. South Korea already stated that they would shoot it down. Last of all it is the most stupid idea for any country to launch a nuke at all. The reason is there are at least a hundred and ninety-one countries that will more than likely launch their nuclear missiles, therefore; it is inevitable for a nuclear launch to happen. It would only cause a world-wide fallout.
Sorry man but you lost me at US has nukes that emit no radiation... I mean that's why we call then nukes because they emit radiation.
If they were heading to DC I'd give them a lift, LOL
Keep dreaming on about China helping us out. China and N. Korea have been allies since the end of WWII. Next you say we are the most powerful nation in the world, I beg the differ.
China is the economically powerful and have the biggest military on this forsaken earth. They have interests as well to keep a buffer between their south border and S. Korea for as long we have presence there.
We are in financial fiasco where we cut military down to the point whomever is serving now they have to pick-up the slack of 2 or more people's jobs that were slashed during the budget cuts. Our military is tired and strung out worldwide, but the mission still the same.
China and Russia have power to veto any U.S. resolutions passed through the UN and they will not support us, and our allies will not support us either because they have interest with China (including us) buying their products and no one want to be sanctioned by the mother ship (China). The mother ship sanctions will be felt heavily. These guys don't say much and they potrait to the world that they are weak, why? Read The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Enough said!!
Are you serious?! Please be joking. You write as if you should be teaching and you are sadly mistaken on every count!! Just to humor me; what do you think would happen if N Korea nukes the South, the South nukes them, China nukes the South, we Nuke China, China nukes India, India nukes Pakistan..etc..
(Also, look past the things you have heard around the table and actually look at some facts. IN 1950 80% OF KOREA SUPPORTED A COMMUNIST REGIME, we took away their right to chose their own fate, and that is why we could not win)
Really? Jon, I am wrong in every count, I see. What about the first 3 paragraphs? Are those comments wrong too? Since you know it all. Prove me wrong on those 3 paragraph and part of the 4th paragraph that China and Russia can veto anything and will not support us at UN level. Prove me wrong and I will recant what I said.
The mother ship may look humble and weak, but don't judge their humble demeaner as a weakness. They will act when you least expect it, just like a tiger.
To Edwin & "others":
. . I have U.S. Army training on "MADM" (Medium Atomic Demolition Munitions). See my litigation at United States Supreme Court 08-9595.
. .To REPEAT: MIssiles are expensive, unreliable, & not as effective as NUCLEAR LANDMINES for "political blackmail."
. . KIM JONG UN’S NUCLEAR LANDMINES: Kim Jong Un’s “NUCLEAR LANDMINES” have previously been delivered to U.S. and Europe and are concealed here, in the USA, now! SEE: U.S. House Hearing. 106-158
. . The CNN “MISSILE” news article, “MATERIAL IN NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST UNCLEAR, WORRYING FOR U.S.” By Jill Dougherty and Pam Benson is “grossly & wrongfully misleading falsehood” as MISSILES are not needed to deliver Kim Jong Un’s concealed NUCLEAR LANDMINE attacks in partnership with al Queda stealth NUCLEAR LANDMINE attacks against U.S. & Europe.
. Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear Hiroshima Landmines concealed inside US & Europemean: “NO MISSILES NEEDED!”
Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear Hiroshima Landmines are concealed under feet of U.S. & Europe. “NO MISSILES NEEDED!”
“NO MISSILES NEEDED!” The U.S. proposed "Anti MIssile Shield" is obsolete like the "Maginot Line" in France before WW2. SEE: U.S. House Hearing. 106-158
NUCLEAR LANDMINE “MILIEU-ENVIRONMENT” INFORMATION. Again SEE: U.S. House Hearing. 106-158
Sorry Jon, I thought you were responding to me. My sincere apoligies.
"Empty their MRE's onto our holy soil! Pull their hair! Read their Facebook pages and taunt them! Pelt them with clods of dirt from your vegetable gardens! Let's get it on!"
Wow, what a nice off the wall comment, by the way, go back from the rock you crawled out from.
Kim Jung Un needs to worry about his diet and lay off the rice. Secondly, how can the Americans take this clown serioulsy after the wierdest American of them all (Rodman) visits him and is buddy buddy with this guy?
I don't think junior eats rice. He's probably one of the very few North Koreans that doesn't eat rice, in fact.
ZZzzzzZZzzzzz Korea isnt American problem.
Korea is our problem. We are the ones that signed a treaty to protect them, so live with it, and cry bloody murder when there might be a war against the two Koreas.
is this a direct result of advice he received from rodman?
YES!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
If Kim Jong U can conduct nuclear bomb tests in North Korea, why can't the US conduct nuclear bomb "tests" in North Korea too?
Yes. We can conduct those in his back yard. Might get costly, but may stimulate economy in the process.
Worrying for the US? Hardly. The US has not engaged them and is just letting the Pillsbury dough boy mouth off. There are pictures online that makes them look foolish and part of a comedy skit. Kim is introducing himself as the NK leader to the world and he's a laughing stock. The US is handling this perfectly. No matter what the US says everyone will jump on them if they engage this fool.
this pudgy little punk needs some cracking himself.
This situation makes me think of the mafia films where one of the boss's guys steps out of line and he gives the nod to the other side's boss to have one of his guys take him out. At some point China might very well give the nod or do the deed itself.
I see a lot of Fantasy-inspired, gung-ho rhetoric about how we would "kick this guy's ass" that indictates low understanding of what North Korea's military capabilities actually *are.* I see a lot of called this guy "crazy." You know what I *don't* see? A logical explanation of how we have any dog in this fight at ALL. How is this worth even ONE American kid even losing a PINKY finger? There's *tens of thousands* of kids who have lost their limbs or horribly wounded in Iraq and Afganistan; there's been THOUSANDS killed. Even given that we had to have those two wars, why North Korea now? After all we've already done the past ten years – TEN YEARS, it took – how do we have ANY interest at ALL here compared to bringing our kids home safe and keeping them there?
It's time for peace. Enough war. This isn't our problem. Not even slightly.
Tim: Yes, Tim, it is time for peace. I believe those were almost exactly Neville Chamberlain's words when he decided not to oppose Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia. And, with regard to Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson said something similar in January 1950 when he gave a speech saying that Korea was outside the U.S.'s "defensive perimeter". Six months later the North Koreans invaded the South. Do you see a pattern here, Tim?
Yes, I do, I see a consistent pattern of the U.S. suffereing tens of thousands of casualties when we had *NO* national interest in a region 10,000 miles away.
I'm NOT a "peacenik," I was *in favor of* Iraq and Afghanistan. But there's TENS OF THOUSANDS severely wounded, THOUSANDS dead. It took us a DECADE. As far as I'm concerned we have no interest any even one American citizen losing a PINKY finger over South Korea. It's ten thousand miles away and it doesn't affect us in the slightest. Not to the degree that one American citizen losing a pinky finger would. Enough is enough.
And if you look closely, you'll see that you didn't answer my question at *all.* I asked for a *logical* explanation of why we have any interest at all in *this* fight. Not any others in the past.
Tim: As to whether I answered your question - I thought the answer was so obvious I needn't state it. The two answers to your question, Tim, are these: (1) if we allow people like Mr. Kim and his military to run unchecked, we will have results like the world had after Munich, like the world had after Acheson's announcement that Korea was not within our defensive perimeter; and (2) is it not in American interests to support a democratic, free-enterprise, American ally? And let's not forget that South Korea is one of the countries who, when asked, honored their alliance with the U.S. by sending ROK infantry units to fight alonside Americans in Viet Nam.
Tim, do you really think that if we allow North Korea to invade the south, that will prevent more war? Do you think that a war that shatters both Koreas will not - and I hate to descend into economic considerations, but here goes - have a devastating effect on the world economy? And do you think the world is so large, and the oceans so wide, that other countries, seeing that the U.S. is unwilling to fight, will not take even more hostile actions against this country?
But you're not weighing all of that against, for example, *one* American kid losing a pinky finger. We're not the only country in the world. We've done enough in the last ten years, it's time for the United States to say "NO! It's YOUR turn!"
Wow arn't you informed, or so you think! We have a dog in this fight because we have a joint defence agreement with South Korea, unless ofcourse you think we should break our written agreement with one of our biggest allies. Also because we have almost 30,000 American troops in South Korea, as well as thousands of American citizens! I bet your the type to allow your neighbors house to burn down because you think it's not your problem to call 911. Setting there watching bad things happen and not doing anything is no better than doing the bad things yourself. Turning a blind eye to injustice is in itself unjust! But ofcourse by all means bring all our troops home, let the rest of the world burn who needs allies, trade partners, or friends?
So pull the troops out and send them home. Enough is enough. There's tens of thousands wounded, there's thousands dead, from the last ten years. Enough war. This is peacetime now.
Don't forget, if we weaken ourselves with these continued relatively minor wars, it would make us incapable of winning a war against China or Russia if the situation in those countries changed and we did actually go to war with them or at least have to "stand up to them." We have a strong national interest in *peace,* now. Enough. It's time for the killing and loss of limbs by the tens of thousands to stop.
Judging by the general illiteracy displayed in all too many posts here, we need to "rain dictionaries" on our own citizens first.
North Korea has a huge army and their leadership shows little regard for human life, including their own people. However, the corrupt North Korean leadership no doubt has plenty of regard for their own skin. The world should make it abundantly clear to Kim that any attack from North Korea will result in him spending the rest of his very short life expectancy in places where the sun never shines.
China makes bunkers that the United States does not have the capability of penetrating. Neither does any other military. China and North Korea are trade partners. Do the math.
They say North Korea doesn't have the capabilities right now to attack the U.S. with a nuclear weapon, but let me ask this: Don't you think the North Koreans would find a way to try and sneak at least a suitcase or fuel container nuke into the U.S., put it in the back of a van, truck, or something like that, find an easily accessible target in a populated area, then detonate it on our soil? We should be watching out for that too, and now.
It wouldn't make for a great explosion. Wouldn't even take out a city block.
What are you talking about? It would take out more than a city block, though it may not do as much damage as the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Could easily fit a big suitcase bomb or canister bombs in the back of a van of other vehicle that could add up to a yield of 10kt.
Doesn't this fat little pig-faced tyrant say stuff like this all the time? Meh.
another job for Navy Seal Team, let jus eliminate the snake's head, and I will train to help
The last president of NK just died less than a year ago. That should tell you something about your snake head theory.
Just simply nuke this craphole of a country out of existence along with Iran. Lets show the world that WE are the supreme power in the world to be reckoned with. We need a President with balls!!!
I'm no NK lover but you sound a lot like Stalin or Hitler or, dare I say, Kim Jong Un, dude......Is that how the US should be perceived worldwide? It's people like you that give your country the tarnished image it drags around.
You like balls? I got some balls for you... moron.
America does have a habit of dropping nuclear weapons on Asian civilians. I guess North Korea is next.
Kim Jung Un needs to sit down and shut up before he loses his country. The only thing dough-boy has ever cracked is a fart. I wonder how many NK Generals got ribbons for thanking him for his beneficent outgassing and telling him it smelled like fresh flowers....One or even a few nuclear weapons dosn't make you a nuclear power...it makes you a target.
How can they "break waists" when their waists are half the size of the S Korean and Americans? You know, We actually feed our troops.
their military gets fed. it is their civilians who are hungry
No they're not, they eat their young, remember?
the world NEEDs to come together on this one... there needs to be a unified response and decision on what to do if NK does anything that indicates intention to make good on threats. however, in asia, you can never be certain whether what one is saying is for show, or shows intent.... asian businesses are also run this way. there is a cultural difference, perhaps we should defer to what other asian nation's read into this.
Great opportunity for metals recycling ! ! !
The U.S. Military Industrial Complex is salivating. Just when you thought America might back off perpetual war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we now get North Korea and Iran. South Korea has the resources and population to handle North Korea all by themselves.
Interesting idea. they are more at immediate risk. this guy is a nut case like his father and must be watched closely. Maybe we could just invite them to a basketball game – winner take all.
Perhaps we should send over Madeline Albright for another cheese & wine date. And then Joe Biden can report to us that there's no threat and we're all just overreacting.
In the interest of "peace" we put up with these clowns. Maybe we should show them what the inferior race can do.
News flash: America is multi-racial.
Lets Hurry up and make North Korea, glow in the dark ( from rediation emmission)
Your parenthetical explanation was unnecessary. The use of nuclear weapons on North Korea releasing vast amounts of radiation across said state was strongly implied in your comment. We get it. THat is all.
We need to send Sarah Palin to N.K. if she can find it on a map.
She can see it from her house.
. .The CNN “MISSILE” news article, “MATERIAL IN NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST UNCLEAR, WORRYING FOR U.S.” By Jill Dougherty and Pam Benson is “grossly & wrongfully misleading falsehood” as missiles are not needed to deliver Kim Jong Un’s successful Nuclear attack in partnership with al Queda against U.S. & Europe. Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear landmines have previously been delivered to U.S. and Europe and are concealed here, in the USA, now!
. . Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear Hiroshima Landmines currently concealed inside US & Europe, “NO MISSILES NEEDED!”
Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear Hiroshima Landmines are concealed under feet of U.S. & Europe. “NO MISSILES NEEDED!”
“NO MISSILES NEEDED!” The U.S. proposed "Anti MIssile Shield" is obsolete like the "Maginot Line" in France before WW2. SEE: U.S. House Hearing. 106-158
NUCLEAR LANDMINE “MILIEU-ENVIRONMENT” INFORMATION. SEE: U.S. House Hearing. 106-158
U.S. House Hearing. 106-158 talks about COLLEGE ACCESS ACT. Please quote the correct information.
Time to get your prescriptions refilled, bud.
hurry up and start and end this 2 second war......what a stubby little creep with a big mouth and small brain, no wonder
he hangs out with Rodman
Sure, Kim Jong Un looks like a dork.
Sure, he sounds (in translation) like a buffoon.
Sure, he behaves like a petulant child.
That doesn't mean we don't need to take him seriously.
well said !!! someone who can cut through the rhetoric and see the big picture
Karzai's a dead man as soon as the U.S. is no longer protecting him.
We can all relax, the administration will send them a sternly worded memo . . . .
I don't usually say things like this, but...this guy needs to get his a$$ kicked.
Dear reader practice with angry birds, we raunch soon. You no raugh, maybe you raugh too hard and crack windpipe. We counterfeit twinkies and break your waist. Maybe throw you in cauldron and cook you.
Dear Kim Jong Un,
Unless you want to experience what Saddam Hussein went through, I suggest you S.T.F.U.
Sincerely, U.S.A.
He said 'smoke my crack pipe"?
No man! Find their crack pipes!
listen to all of you bloodlusting warmongers begging for a disastrous war with China that will kill millions of people including large number of Americans. Are you people really that insane?
Yes they are. Most likely your prized reich-wingers. To them war is money and that sums up what the right is about.
Both of you are idiot@s. China will not backup North Korea at the risk of confrontation with the West which gives them all the economic power. But the north koreans are a lot
what is NK's contribution to the world?
Entertainment.
You are right... just entertainment... BUT, he did torpedo a South Korean warshipwhere sailors were killed and which went unpunished... SO, his threat to our country should not go any further without a response... I say lets let them know we will be checking our ICBM's latest GPS updates... 😉
it is time to kick this little napolean's butt....CHINA, you do not want us to do it do you?