Receintly they blew one up while under pressure from the U.N. Now they are reportedly putting it back together again :(

North Korea begins reassembling nuclear facility:
media 3 minutes ago



TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, media reported.


Japan's Kyodo news agency said reconstruction began on Monday. It cited sources in Beijing close to six-party nuclear talks on North Korean, which involve Japan, South Korea, Russia and China, as well as North Korea and the United States.

North Korea said on August 26 it would stop disabling its Soviet-era Yongbyon nuclear complex and accused the United States of violating a disarmament-for-aid deal.

Fox News, quoting U.S. officials, said the North Koreans were likely protesting a U.S. delay in removing the communist state from its list of terrorist-sponsoring nations.

Fox did not give details of the reassembly work nor did it cite a North Korean source.

"They've been threatening this move for some time," one U.S. official told Fox, adding that until now the threats were seen as merely a way for North Korean officials "to express their anger."

Even now, piecing the facility back together is seen as a "symbolic gesture" because so much already has been taken apart, Fox reported.

Another U.S. official told Fox News that North Korea's reactor could be back in operation in two to three months.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe declined to directly address the report, and stressed again the need for North Korea to provide a mechanism to verify that is truly dismantling its nuclear program.

"We and our partners in the six-party talks have made clear to North Korea that we need a credible verification protocol, and as soon as have it, we will remove North Korea from the terror list," Johndroe said.

"North Korea knows what it needs to do at this point," he said. "The six-party talks operate on a principle of action-for-action."

SIX TO EIGHT BOMBS

North Korea began disabling its plutonium-producing nuclear reactor and other facilities at its Yongbyon facility in November as a step toward their ultimate dismantlement in exchange for economic aid and political concessions, including removal from the U.S. terror list.

Proliferation experts believe the North, which conducted its only nuclear test two years ago, has already produced enough plutonium for about six to eight bombs.

The United States said last week Pyongyang's move to stop taking the Yongbyon facility apart was a step backward and reiterated North Korea must disable its facilities before it is removed from the terrorism blacklist that restricts investment.

"It is a violation of their commitments to the six-party framework. It certainly is in violation of the principle of action for action," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told Reuters at the time.

Engineers, working since late last year and mostly overseen by U.S. experts, have almost completed disabling the Yongbyon nuclear plant. The aim is to make it impossible to resume operations for at least a year.

But analysts have said that any North Korea threat to restart its plant that makes arms-grade plutonium was feasible, although the task would be a daunting one.

The North's announcement last week confirmed the belief of some analysts that its communist leaders have no intention of giving up nuclear weapons, a diplomatic trump card that has repeatedly won them concessions in the past.

The disablement work had been done at three facilities -- a plant that produces nuclear fuel, the North's sole operating reactor and a plant that turns spent fuel into plutonium.

The only major remaining step was the discharging of irradiated fuel rods from the reactor. The rods are still in North Korea and contain enough fissile material for one nuclear bomb, proliferation experts said.

link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080903/ts_nm/korea_north_yongbyon_dc

North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs

No surprise there.

Like the rest of the world, they live in terror that the leading military aggressor on the planet, the U.S., will attack and annihilate them.

____________________

B*sh promised the gullible American Public that regime change in Iraq would curb nuclear proliferation, weaken al-Qaeda, and create a shining beacon of freedom and democracy. Instead, we have "eliminated" a nuclear program that didn't exist, provoked Iran and North Korea into escalating or re-instituting their nuclear programs, decimated the nation of Iraq and made it a venue for chaos and civil war, and offered terrorists a gigantic recruiting opportunity and training ground.

I'm not very surprised. They've wanted nukes for awhile and with their strong military, combined with our overstreched armed forces, we can't stop them. Kim Jong-Il with nukes isn't a very comforting feeling. I'm thankful for the Pacific Ocean.

No surprise there.

Like the rest of the world, they live in terror that the leading military aggressor on the planet, the U.S., will attack and annihilate them.

____________________

B*sh promised the gullible American Public that regime change in Iraq would curb nuclear proliferation, weaken al-Qaeda, and create a shining beacon of freedom and democracy. Instead, we have "eliminated" a nuclear program that didn't exist, provoked Iran and North Korea into escalating or re-instituting their nuclear programs, decimated the nation of Iraq and made it a venue for chaos and civil war, and offered terrorists a gigantic recruiting opportunity and training ground.

wow, freestinker justifying something someone else does based on evil america's evil actions. how original.

Like the rest of the world, they live in terror that the leading military aggressor on the planet, the U.S., will attack and annihilate them.
And the U.S. should.

When will Chinese army occupy North Korea?

When will Chinese army occupy North Korea?

China has North Korea by the balls pretty much. I honestly do not believe that North Korea will do anything much beyond posturing.

China has North Korea by the balls pretty much. I honestly do not believe that North Korea will do anything much beyond posturing.

When without any evidence, believing is just believing.

When without any evidence, believing is just believing.

It was very evident during 6 Party Talks, and when China makes NK give in to International demands.

OK, let me show another story.

When will South Korea occupy North Korea?
Possibly China won't disagree it if to set DMZ. At least, Japan will follow South Korea if you'll do so.

OK, let me show another story.

When will South Korea occupy North Korea?
Possibly China won't disagree it if to set DMZ. At least, Japan will follow South Korea if you'll do so.

South Korea will never occupy North Korea, unless there is a war and SK wins. China will not back NK in a war with SK because if there is, NK will be the aggressor. In which case, the entire world, for the most part, would be against NK.

No surprise there.

Like the rest of the world, they live in terror that the leading military aggressor on the planet, the U.S., will attack and annihilate them.

You're kidding me, right? You think NK wants nukes for self defense? You think Kim Jong Il wants nukes, for self defense? You are more insane than I thought. He wants nukes so that he has a bargaining chip, so he can get what he want's. It's really not hard to understand that.

South Korea will never occupy North Korea, unless there is a war and SK wins. China will not back NK in a war with SK because if there is, NK will be the aggressor. In which case, the entire world, for the most part, would be against NK.

I'm exactly asking that when will South Korea declare war against North Korea.

I'm exactly asking that when will South Korea declare war against North Korea.

And I'm telling you, never. If there is ever a war on this peninsula, it will be due to NK aggression.

And I'm telling you, never. If there is ever a war on this peninsula, it will be due to NK aggression.

So. I thought South Korea want to integrate Korean Peninsula, but I guess I misunderstand it.

Uh, Um, I don't think China will be such tolerance as you think. I'm hard to understand that you could think as such optimistic for yourselves.

They will not be tolerant of NK aggression, that is what I said in my first post. That is why I am not particularly worried about NK. If they ever do decide to do something, China, and the rest of the world will squash them.

So. I thought South Korea want to integrate Korean Peninsula, but I guess I misunderstand it.

North Korea wants to reunify a whole lot more than the South does, and they want to do it by military means. It is one of the main talking points of Kim Jong Il.

I guess you are telling to conquer for making Korean Empire.

You're kidding me, right?

No.

You think NK wants nukes for self defense? You think Kim Jong Il wants nukes, for self defense?

No, I think that he probably wants nukes so that he has a bargaining chip, so he can get what he wants.

Which is understandable.

The U.S. however, has thousands of nukes so that it can bully the rest of the world into submission and get what it wants by threat of force.....no 'bargaining' required.

Just who (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/08/2358528.htm) is calling the shots in North Korea these days? One source says Dear Leader is dead, another (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aS2c3cLn3DPk&refer=asia) maintains he had a stroke.

Inquiring minds want to know!

It is possible he is dead or had as stroke. Another possible is that he is paranoid and hiding from almost everybody fearing assassination. One of the interesting thing about the parade showing his military hardware was that they showed no tanks. Perhaps they were worried of a coup.

No.



No, I think that he probably wants nukes so that he has a bargaining chip, so he can get what he wants.

That's exactly what I said.



The U.S. however, has thousands of nukes so that it can bully the rest of the world into submission and get what it wants by threat of force.....no 'bargaining' required.


So why would they even bother getting one or two or even ten nukes?

So why would they even bother getting one or two or even ten nukes?

Do you agree that NK to nuke?

Do you agree that NK to nuke?

Of course I don't. NK is a rouge state headed by a man who has a severe case of little man syndrome. I fear they would not hesitate to use them on SK or Japan, even if it meant their own destruction.

SEOUL, South Korea — Officials believe North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has recovered enough from a stroke to brush his own teeth but (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,421442,00.html) ...

I had some thoughts on the situations after thinking, mostly in the questions we might what to think is going. First off is what the next follower is what going to be? Is there going to be a General taking over by managing to take control? Will more than one leader be trying to take control, and will the contest done diplomaticly or will it break into civil war? Who currently has control of any few nuclear weapons they made, and do more than one faction have nuclear weapons? Was the Yong Bon plant ordered to be rebuild before or after Kim Jong Il's stroke, and whom gaved the orders? What is Kim Jong Il's exact medical situation and prognosis?

The answers of these questions must be answered in order to figure out a plan what we might what to do, and as well what China, Japan, and South Korea do. That is what intelligence should be doing about this for the current time.

Well, but I guess North Korea doesn't think to take any responsibility to resolve problems on diplomacy. Not only the matter on the nuke, but also on the kidnapping problem, North Korea replied nothing. They just demand a lot of materials to help them, but they won't do any action to trade-off. So, I guess only South Korea is the country that can help North Korea by the way that many materials are sent to North Korea without charge and burden.

That is what intelligence should be doing about this for the current time.

It isn't as easy as you think, lol.

I never said it would be easy. Just what it needs to be done.

Kim seems to be on the missing list of late, maybe he is sick, or hopefully dead, either way, its a bit of a coincidence this rhetoric coming when it does.

I think it suggests a possible power struggle within the top flight of the commie party, as those guys know nothing but uniforms and guns.

I feel sorry for the NK people, having to live under that shit.

Kim seems to be on the missing list of late, maybe he is sick, or hopefully dead, either way, its a bit of a coincidence this rhetoric coming when it does.

I think it suggests a possible power struggle within the top flight of the commie party, as those guys know nothing but uniforms and guns.

I feel sorry for the NK people, having to live under that shit.

That is quite possible. I am less worried attacking any else and more of collapsing into civil war after the harvest. There may be more than two factions and their may be contesting. It could become a real problem when refugees start fleeing into China and South Korea.

So why would they even bother getting one or two or even ten nukes?
Don't go gettin' all "logical" on FT, Phyrex....

Im wondering if Pyongyang are trying to squeeze fresh concession out of the west with this reactivation.
Or is it simply a case of knowing nothing but cold war military dictatorship.

Im wondering if Pyongyang are trying to squeeze fresh concession out of the west with this reactivation.

Probably. Although it could be that they're just fucking nuts.

I'm in no way suggesting that it's time to take military action, but it's pretty obvious that negotiation isn't getting us anywhere.

Probably. Although it could be that they're just fucking nuts.

I'm in no way suggesting that it's time to take military action, but it's pretty obvious that negotiation isn't getting us anywhere.Well then what are you suggesting?

One reasonable way to do it is to negotiated from strength. I would suggest a single meeting, and give them a simple statement. "We have a deal. You said you would destroy the Yon Bon site, and now you have rebuild it. Either you destroy it or we will." Then I would walk out and refuse to talk any more and see what they do.

Well then what are you suggesting?

Nothing. I readily admit I have no clue how to deal with North Korea.

Well then what are you suggesting?

Perhaps we might want to find ourselves a nice strong North Korean General and start bribing the hell out of him. ;)

Nothing. I readily admit I have no clue how to deal with North Korea.
Well, look on the bright side - it's certainly nothing a little chemical/biological warfare couldn't solve. ;)

Originally Posted by Freethinker
No.
No, I think that he probably wants nukes so that he has a bargaining chip, so he can get what he wants.

That's exactly what I said.

Here is what you said that prompted my answer --

""You think NK wants nukes for self defense? You think Kim Jong Il wants nukes, for self defense?""

Speaking of *logic*, there is a difference between deterrence and self-defense.

Originally Posted by Freethinker
The U.S. however, has thousands of nukes so that it can bully the rest of the world into submission and get what it wants by threat of force.....no 'bargaining' required.


So why would they even bother getting one or two or even ten nukes?

You're asking childish questions.

One possible reason they would ""bother getting one or two or even ten nukes"" is to give the political regime in the U.S. pause before they attack, or even threaten to attack, North Korea.

You're asking childish questions.

One possible reason they would ""bother getting one or two or even ten nukes"" is to give the political regime in the U.S. pause before they attack, or even threaten to attack, North Korea.
You're so off the mark, I don't even know where to begin.

You're so off the mark, I don't even know where to begin.

Why is that an unreasonable statement?

One possible reason they would ""bother getting one or two or even ten nukes"" is to give the political regime in the U.S. pause before they attack, or even threaten to attack, North Korea.
The US would NEVER attack North Korea. If they pulled any shit that warranted international attention - read; any action that precipitated a subsequent military build up on our end in THEIR neck of the woods (and I'm not just talking about them conducting a rather benign missile test), then the Chinese would gladly take care of 'em for us. Hell, do you think the Russians wants us there? The Japs hate their fucking guts. There's waaaay too much international pressure on them, period.

The mere notion of FT proposing that their interest in nuclear armament is for protection (from us, no less) is ludicrous in the extreme. But, hey...if he weren't blaming us for something (something meaning anything and everything), then where would he be?

I don't know if you could put you in the shoes of the North Korea position. North Korea is still in war, although the ceasefire has been for many years. The U.N. mandate is still in effect. The U.S. did attack Iraq and are still threating Iran and North Korea. We have never said they were part of the "axis of evil". North Korea has a military that could easily win any war with the U.S., and the U.S. does have thousands of nuclear weapons.

I think the North Korea leader must think that the U.S. could attack them. Any intelligence leader would not ignore the possible, just as no leader of the U.S. would ignore possible threats at the U.S.

North Korea has a military that could easily win any war with the U.S...
What the hell are you talking about? I've noticed that your posts are getting a little incoherent as of late - are you on any medication?

I tend to agree.
There will be no military action against North Korea.

What the hell are you talking about? I've noticed that your posts are getting a little incoherent as of late - are you on any medication?

That was a mistake I made. Sometimes I do still have probably writing as I am still recovering from my stroke a year back. I apologize.

What I met to say is that the North Korea would easily lose against the United States. This is something that North Korea is something that they know, if they do not say out loud.

Sometimes I do still have probably writing as I am still recovering from my stroke a year back.
Oh, okay - thanks for clarifying, and good luck with the recovery. :)

Ha!

Prae has a 'Joe Biden' moment. :)

Ha!

Prae has a 'Joe Biden' moment. :)

Or a Sarah Palin one :)

Whatever - suffice it to say that I'm embarrassed. My sniping wasn't called for.

Whatever - suffice it to say that I'm embarrassed. My sniping wasn't called for.

Thank you. :)

When I heared the news about the demoliton of North Korea's nuclear power plant I didn't think that it was for good. How can someone believe that country whose leader is more evil than Bush? It will take sometime before North Korea is ready to face the world.

Praetorian, You need not be embarrassed. I understand that you didn't know or remember, and what I said was clearly ridiculous. I am not upset, it's just one of things that happen. :)

Keep at it Imagineer, your coming on leaps and bounds, the more ya work the mind, the sooner youll get over it.

Praetorian, You need not be embarrassed. I understand that you didn't know or remember, and what I said was clearly ridiculous.

The latter part of it was the opposite of "ridiculous".

It was an excellent point.

You said --

""I think the North Korea leader must think that the U.S. could attack them. Any intelligence leader would not ignore the possible, just as no leader of the U.S. would ignore possible threats at the U.S.""

Dead on accurate.

Here is what you said
One possible reason they would ""bother getting one or two or even ten nukes"" is to give the political regime in the U.S. pause before they attack, or even threaten to attack, North Korea.

Listen FT, I may not be an expert on US political and military policies, but I have spent the last two years doing nothing but study on North Korea and its political and military policies. Its my job, until I leave South Korea. I know a lot of things that 99.9% of people do not know about that country and its leaders.

Suffice to say, with confidence, I can conclude that North Korea wants nuclear weapons as a barganing chip, because honestly they have nothing else to cut a deal with. The only reason that the international community gives them any slack is for the sake of the people in that country. KJI and NK is isolated, at least in a regional sense. China has them on a short leash, Japan is anything but friendly with them, and South Korea, of course, stands ready to defend itself from aggresion, along with the United States and it's allies.

Seoul is the second largest city on Earth, and it sits about 60km from the DMZ. A city of over 20 million people. In the event of war breaking out, Seoul would be leveled in minutes. NK has approximately 5000 artillery and rocket pieces pointed at downtown. Seoul is also home to about 15,000 Soldiers and family members. That in itself is a deterrant for the United States being aggressive against NK. Not to mention political ramifications, as well as the fact that we just cannot afford, nor maintain a war against a million man army at this point in time.

North Korea postures on a daily basis. From troop movements all the way up the the firing of missles. Propoganda is also a key factor. KJI and his regime hold sway over the population of that country with propoganda. They (the general population) believe, whole heartedly, that they are the strongest, smartest, and and most politically righteous nation on Earth. Acquiring nuclear arms would only serve to further this illusion.

The recent "illness" of KJI may further destabilize the country internally. KJI has no clear line of succession, and thus a power strugle may ensue. The fact that NK is attempting to restart their nuclear program at the same time that KJI has dissapeared may actually suggest that he may not by in charge anymore. Thus someone else from inside his regime is restarting the nuclear program in his absence, almost immedietly after it was discontinued by KJI. That would actually be expected, because, if in fact KJI is in any way dead or incapacitated, then NK will need all the bargaining chips they can get to maintain order within their own country, as well as bargain with the outside world.

This is, minus all the sensitive information, the abridgement of an opinion report I wrote to my superiors last week. Do you agree with what it says? Because from where I'm sitting, this is what I see.

Excellent post, Phyrex.

Agreed, and thank you for sharing that. It's nice to get some first-hand information. Keep up the good work. :)

I also thank your information Phyrex.

Thanks guys.

Hey, he made a public appearance, finally. Gonna have to rewrite the last paragraph a bit, lol.

The North Korea news said he watched a soccer and spoke with players. I do not to know how reliable are their report. It would be clearly as to his health if there were outside journalists.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/04/nkorea.kim.jong/index.html

North Korea seems to be restarting their Plutonium reactor, and also seems they are going to test launch some of their missiles soon. This is not good. Probably they are blackmailing us for more aid. I hope that is what is going on. With the questions of the leadership there is a lot of questions.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/10/nkorea.nuclear.program.ap/index.html

Uh, again to aid? How much that you can defray the tax at least several years to come for North Korea?

I thought we could aid North Korea if they'll agree to become a democracy. But there aren't any evidence to seem they'll be so.
In fact this year also, North Korea will suffer starvation. If North Korea pledge just they'll be a democracy or at least they never use the aid for their forces, we could help them. But North Korea demand help by just threat.
To be my honest, I want I seek other ways to solve the problem about North Korea.

What other ways have you in mind Koutaka.

''But there arent any evidence to seem they'll be so''.
[But there isn't any evidence to assume they'll be].

Well, one of the way, China or South Korea and US will occupy North Korea like Iraq. Of course I guess that over a thousand soldiers will die in North Korea like Iraq, but if North Korea will fire just a shot, about a hundred thousand people will die in Seoul, Beijing, Okinawa(many US troops stay there), or Tokyo like Hiroshima or Nagasaki at WW2.

Probably Imagineer claims the aid will suspend nukes, but I guess not. If North Korea will suspend nukes when we'll help them, North Korea would allow international observers for our aid. But they denied it. It suggests that North Korea will use the aid for their forces. It means, to nuke. I guess the aid will not suspend nukes but help nukes. Of course, whether we aid North Korea or not, they will assemble nuclear weapon completely at last. We must prevent it.

I'll study another way to prevent nukes if it'll be shown, but nothing is shown yet.

Thank you for adjustment my mistake of a phrase.:)

Well, one of the way, China or South Korea and US will occupy North Korea like Iraq. Of course I guess that over a thousand soldiers will die in North Korea like Iraq, but if North Korea will fire just a shot, about a hundred thousand people will die in Seoul, Beijing, Okinawa(many US troops stay there), or Tokyo like Hiroshima or Nagasaki at WW2.

Probably Imagineer claims the aid will suspend nukes, but I guess not. If North Korea will suspend nukes when we'll help them, North Korea would allow international observers for our aid. But they denied it. It suggests that North Korea will use the aid for their forces. It means, to nuke. I guess the aid will not suspend nukes but help nukes. Of course, whether we aid North Korea or not, they will assemble nuclear weapon completely at last. We must prevent it.

I'll study another way to prevent nukes if it'll be shown, but nothing is shown yet.

Thank you for adjustment my mistake of a phrase.:)

The Peoples Republic wouldnt tolerate US troops on the ground in NK, plain and simple.

The United States is not going to start another war. We are already fighting two of them, and we just are not going to start a third. China could do it, but the U.S. will not want it to be on the border of South Korea. It would scare them. North Korea is a useful buffer zone between them.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/11/us.koreas.ap/index.html

President Bush has agreed to remove the North Koreans from the list of nations that are terrorism. This has been done despite Japan's problem with the abduction of Japanese citizens has not been dealt with. I wonder how much of the world economy is the reason. If the markets are bad now, how much worse would a nuclear crisis make them be?

The company spending a lot of resource for the waste and grudging to that against catastrophe must be going to collapse.
It's not easy to write English for me, just I'm tired.

Bush declare war for the oil, but he doesn't show justice when other countries that in Far East and Europe can defray the cost.
Bush helped many banks and riches, but he didn't help for the sufferers of Hurricane Katrina.

I hope 4 years to come will be fine.

Well, it's easy that just bombing nuclear plants.
I don't know why nobody show the idea.

...and also seems they are going to test launch some of their missiles soon. This is not good. Probably they are blackmailing us for more aid.

They launch missiles all the time, not really a big deal so much as the nuclear reactor bit. That's what everyone has their eyes on.

NKorea announces plan to resume nuclear disabling
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear;_ylt=Aj_lVX8f877MR3OYXQkt9jFvaA8 F

Is it the progress of nuclear disabling? Well, actually it would be a process to disable nuclear plants. But it's like just a situation of reaching agreement in six-party talks but North Korea take the fruit of that they could be dropped from terrorism blacklist. For several years we repeated the celemony, recently every month. In fact, they already demand the aid to disable nuclear plants.
I'm forcasting that they'll claim that we must aid them before the inspection of the nuclear plants, then, when we'll refuse it, they'll resume nukes. After that, if we'll aid North Korea, they'll suspend nukes again, but they demand more the aid before inspection.
But any other way? And, does anyone think another scenario?
I guess US may prepare to send bomb from F-117 to nuclear plants instead of the aid.