Probably sabre rattling. But when your sabres carry a mighty big boom it's best folks pay attention.
MSNBC:
N. Korea warns of possible military acts
Statement to U.S., S. Korea follows reports of nuke plant restarting
SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea warned South Korea and the United States on Wednesday that Seoul's participation in a U.S.-led program to intercept ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction is equal to a declaration of war.
South Korea announced its participation in the U.S.-led program on Tuesday, one day after North Korea defiantly conducted a nuclear test, drawing international criticism.
The North's military said in a statement that it will respond with "immediate, strong military measures" against any attempt to stop and search North Korean ships under the Proliferation Security Initiative.
The statement, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, also said the regime no longer considers itself bound by the armistice that ended the Korean War. It accused the U.S., a signatory of the armistice, of "dragging" the South into the program under its "hostile policy" against the North.
It also said it cannot guarantee safety for South Korean and U.S. navy ships sailing near the disputed western Korean sea border.
Earlier Wednesday, news reports said Pyongyang has restarted a weapons-grade nuclear power plant. South Korea also confirmed the regime fired off its fifth short-range missile amid a deepening standoff with world powers following its latest nuclear test.
The missile launches over the past two days came as the U.N. Security Council debated possible new sanctions against the isolated communist nation for its nuclear test on Monday. Retaliatory options were limited, however, and no one was talking publicly about military action.
South Korea's mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that U.S. spy satellites have detected steam coming from a nuclear facility at North Korea's main Yongbyon plant, indicating the North is reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods to harvest weapons-grade plutonium.
Its report quoted an unnamed official. South Korea's Defense Ministry and the National Intelligence Service — the country's main spy agency — said they cannot confirm the report.
The North had said it would begin reprocessing in protest over international criticism of its April 5 rocket launch.
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I think it's a mistake to assume rational motives for NorK's behavior. Over at Atlas, Pam has the video with Bolton's comments up. He points out that there is reason to suspect Iran is funding the NorK program, which if true injects an element of sheer, irrational chaos mongering into the mix. NorK is not demanding we send rice or they'll nuke Anchorage. They pour every cent they get into the nuke program anyway. They are screaming about respect and apologies, and a major concern is that they will peddle their nukes to Iran and other terrorist customers. The increasing threat of their nukes increases the likelihood Japan and other neighbors will follow suit.
ReplyDeleteWhat seems to be going on here makes the old Axis powers look almost sane.
Revere -- I don't disagree at all, only point out it may be sabre rattling but it would be a horrendous mistake for us to assume that.
ReplyDeleteKim Jong Il is far too unpredictable. With Iran there for the original test and now funding Kim, Venezuala and Bolivia (I think) supplying uranium to Iran, Iran getting who knows what from Kim, The Syrian situation the Israelis hopefully took care of it gets curiouser and curiouser.
Incidentally, I saw a map yesterday, though I can't recall where. It indicated the Taepodong II may have a reach much farther than Anchorage.
The good news is that apparently if we can wait long enough the old f*** will die. The bad news is nobody seems to know who the NorKs will get next, including the NorKs. Are their "customers" trying to get their hands on the merchandise before the store closes?
ReplyDeleteMR and RRA, I agree with both you comments.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would denote that it is a gross mis-caluclation to believe that Kim Jong IL is actually running the show in North Korea, since circa '94.
He is puppet who likes to indulge in Hennesey, European hookers, Western Cartoons, etc.
The Generals are running the show in Pyongyang and they know full well that Barack HUSSEIN Obama is a coward who will do anything to kowtow to our enemies both present and in the past.
Least anyone forget: Who ever is running the show uo north, has already said more than a week ago "the truce is NO LONGER IN EFFECT!!! Ergo if there is no truce than there is a STATE OF WAR lready in effect!! Since the Truce like any Truce is only a suspention of War --- not an end to the State of War!!! I disagree about Obama, pedople misjudge his quite power of responce as most of our enemies forget until as in many cases since our inception "The sleeping giant comes awakw with a rightious thunder and pound our enemies down!! He is a student of Lincoln who responded in much the same way.
ReplyDelete