The AP reports that North Korea might be preparing for more nuclear weapons tests.
The activity, started a number of days ago, included ground preparation at one site and construction of some buildings and other structures, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it involved intelligence gathering. He said that although the purpose of the structures is unclear, officials are concerned because North Korea has left open the possibility of another test.
It has also been using the "W" word a lot more, lately.
"The resolution cannot be construed otherwise than a declaration of a war" against the North, the statement said.
The North also said it "wants peace but is not afraid of war," and that it would "deal merciless blows" against anyone who violates its sovereignty.
It said it wouldn't cave in to "the pressure and threat of someone at this time when it has become a nuclear weapons state."
A 1997 defector from North Korea, Hwang Jang Yop, the highest ranking NK ever to defect, has said that the only way to stop the North Koreans is to depose the current regime. Hwang was Kim Jong Il's former mentor.
Now under police protection 24 hours a day to prevent any North Korean attempt on his life, Hwang said the six-nation talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear weapons program will not resolve the crisis.
He said South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan should not bargain with the North. They should instead isolate the regime, he said, calling it an "international criminal organization and the enemy of democracy."
The North's nuclear test last week was not Kim's last card and the North Korean leader could still test fire more missiles like he did in July and even mount nuclear warheads on them, Hwang said.
"It is nonsense to urge the North to abandon its nuclear weapons with Kim in place," he said.
Hwang said China is key to bringing an end to Kim's regime.
Sounds like good analysis, to me. But that's not all Hwang said. From YONHAP NEWS:
North Korea has already manufactured several nuclear weapons and is ready to deploy these in the event of a war, a high-ranking North Korean defector claimed on Thursday.
Hwang Jang-yop, a former secretary of the Workers Party of Korea and one of the North's top theorists, said the reclusive nation signed a pact with Pakistan in 1996 on the transfer of uranium-based nuclear technology.
So, the DPRK has nuclear weapons ready to go and Pakistan is selling nuke technology to our enemies. It's all about the money trail, as usual.
Hwang again:
"No Chinese officials like the North Korean leader, but they keep him in power," Hwang said, adding that Kim's regime serves Beijing's interests by helping keep U.S. influence in the region at bay.
Hwang said the best-case scenario would be if the North pursued economic openness and reform in trying to rebuild its dismal economy, which he said would likely lead eventually to Kim's overthrow and naturally resolve the nuclear dispute.
But Hwang doubts that will happen. "Kim Jong Il actually fears Chinese-style economic reform and openness coming to North Korea," he said.
The interview came a day after the U.S. finally acknowledged that the DPRK really had tested a nuke.
China also began inspecting cargo at the North Korea border yesterday, inspecting trucks in accordance with the new UN sanctions. However, China has already said that it will not inspect incoming or outgoing ship cargoes.
China and Russia contend that interdicting ships might needlessly provoke the North and at the very least discourage it from returning to talks on its nuclear program — though the U.S. and Britain say most inspections of ships would be done at ports rather than on the high seas. Australia announced it was banning the North's ships from entering its ports, except in dire emergencies.
While China is angry over its communist ally's behavior and is loath to appear out of step with other powers, it has been reluctant to support or implement tough measures. The leadership is concerned that tightening the squeeze on Pyongyang might trigger a collapse of the North Korean regime, sending refugees streaming across the border.
And China is building a a new border fence along parts of its border with North Korea. Seems like everyone is building one of those things except us.
Clearly, China is the key here. If they supported complete sanctions and regime change, the Russians would agree, as well. And then it would ultimately be up to the North Korean people to either depose KJI or starve to death. Not much of a choice really, but there really aren't any good choices in the whole mess.
They must be stopped and we must do it today. Talking has not, and will not, accomplish anything. We must put the strictest sanctions possible on the the DPRK right now. We can't set this matter aside and hope that it sorts itself out.
The North Koreans have made their intent clear. They aren't developing "peaceful" nuclear power, but weapons. Weapons they will either use or sell. And neither of those scenarios are acceptable to a free world.
And we have to remember who else is watching us handle this crisis and what else is at stake.
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