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U.S. unable to confirm N.K.'s nuke test

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
he United States said Monday that it was trying to determine the authenticity of North Korea's claim that it conducted a second nuclear test just hours earlier, according to Yonhap News.

"We are aware of the reports of a nuclear test by North Korea," a State Department official said, requesting anonymity. "We are consulting with our allies. Once we have established the facts, we will have more to say. At this point, I do not have a timeline as to when there will be more to say."

North Korea said it conducted an underground nuclear test Monday morning (Seoul time) to "bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defense."

South Korean officials said that they detected seismic tremors in the northeastern city of Poongkye-ri, North Hamgyong Province, near the site where the North detonated its first nuclear device in 2006.

The announcement on the North's nuclear test came as Japanese vessels had stayed away from waters off North Korea's northeastern coast following the North's warning of possible missile launches.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Statement from the president regarding North Korea

By The Associated Press – 33 minutes ago

Text of statement by President Barack Obama on nuclear and short-range missile tests conducted by North Korea.

Today, North Korea said that it has conducted a nuclear test in violation of international law. It appears to also have attempted a short range missile launch. These actions, while not a surprise given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations. North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security.

By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea's behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia. Such provocations will only serve to deepen North Korea's isolation. It will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community. We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the Six-Party Talks as well as other members of the U.N. Security Council in the days ahead.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Didn't Bush change direction later in his Presidency and have an agreement with N. Korea to dismantle their Nuclear Program?

What has changed since then?

John Bolton said this was about to happen 4 or 5 days ago.

How was it he knew before the Obama administration?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
The underground nucleat test announced by North Korea appears to come as something of a surprise to the Obama administration. Yet the Obama administration has acted with nothing but complacency about the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran. In a May 20 Wall Street Journal column, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton predicted:

The curtain is about to rise again on the long-running nuclear tragicomedy, "North Korea Outwits the United States." Despite Kim Jong Il's explicit threats of another nuclear test, U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth said last week that the Obama administration is "relatively relaxed" and that "there is not a sense of crisis." They're certainly smiling in Pyongyang.

Ambassador Bolton found that Bosworth and his colleagues were providing the North Koreans with nothing but encouragement:

Despite Pyongyang's aggression, Mr. Bosworth has reiterated that the U.S. is "committed to dialogue" and is "obviously interested in returning to a negotiating table as soon as we can." This is precisely what the North wants: America in a conciliatory mode, eager to bargain, just as Mr. Bush was after the 2006 test.

I think it's safe to say they're smiling in Tehran (or should I say "the Islamic Republic of Iran"?) too.
 
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