N Korea claims key nuclear step complete
By Andrew Ward in Seoul
Published: October 2 2003 14:47 | Last Updated: October 2 2003 14:47
North Korea on Thursday said it had completed reprocessing 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods - enough to produce at least five or six atomic bombs - but promised not to export any nuclear material to other countries.
If true, the completion of reprocessing would mark a crucial step towards North Korea becoming an undisputed nuclear power, plunging the divided peninsula into deeper crisis and risking an arms race in north-east Asia.However, South Korea dismissed its communist neighbour's claim as a negotiating tactic, reflecting widespread suspicion among experts that Pyongyang may be exaggerating its nuclear capability to win political and economic concessions from the US.
In a statement issued through the state news agency, North Korea's foreign ministry said it had diverted plutonium from the fuel rods, "towards reinforcing [our] nuclear deterrent." Plutonium would continue to be "churned out in an unbroken chain," it said.
"We are in possession of nuclear deterrence and we're continuing to strengthen that deterrence," said Cho Su-hon, North Korea's vice foreign minister, talking to reporters at the United Nations in New York.
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W-"WMD's are bad..uh, for some anyways..uh, North Korea? never heard of it"
Re: W-"WMD's are bad..uh, for some anyways..uh, North Korea? never heard of it" -- fluffy
We just flex our muscles on small incopetent military w/ outdated gear. Makes us feel good to play w/ our new toys. Can't be messin' w/ some good ol boys that "might" fire off a warhead or two.
W-"WMD's are bad..uh, for some anyways..uh, North Korea? never heard of it"
Re: W-"WMD's are bad..uh, for some anyways..uh, North Korea? never heard of it" -- hi top
| Posted by fluffy ® , Oct 02,2003,12:49 |
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MetroBlab
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"Can't be messin' w/ some good ol boys that "might" fire off a warhead or two."or proven terrorist-sponsoring nations like saudi arabia or egypt, cause, ya know, they are our "allies".
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