North Korea Makes Threat

..SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened top security and foreign affairs officials and ordered them to take "substantial and high-profile important state measures," state media said Sunday, fueling speculation that he plans to push forward with a threat to explode a nuclear device in defiance of the United Nations.

The meeting of top officials led by Kim underscores Pyongyang's defiant stance in protest of U.N. Security Council punishment for a December rocket launch. The dispatch in the official Korean Central News Agency did not say when the meeting took place.

Last week, the Security Council condemned North Korea's Dec. 12 launch of a long-range rocket as a violation of a ban against nuclear and missile activity. The council, including North Korea ally China, punished Pyongyang with more sanctions and ordered the regime to refrain from a nuclear test — or face "significant action."

North Korea responded by rejecting the resolution and maintaining its right to launch a satellite into orbit as part of a peaceful civilian space program.

It warned that it would keep developing rockets and testing nuclear devices to counter what it sees as U.S. hostility. A rare statement was issued Thursday by the powerful National Defense Commission, the top governing body led by Kim.

Kim's order for firm action and the recent series of strong statements indicate he intends to conduct a nuclear test in the near future to show "he is a young yet powerful leader both domestically and internationally," said Chin Hee-gwan, a North Korea expert at South Korea's Inje University.

North Korea cites a U.S. military threat in the region as a key reason behind its drive to build nuclear weapons. The countries fought on opposite sides of the Korean War, which ended after three years in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The U.S.-led U.N. Command mans the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, and Washington stations more than 28,000 troops in South Korea to protect its ally.

North Korea is estimated to have enough weaponized plutonium for four to eight bombs, according to American nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker, who visited the country's nuclear complex northwest of Pyongyang in November 2010.

However, it is not known whether North Korean scientists have found a way to build nuclear warheads small enough to mount on a long-range missile.

Experts say regular tests are needed to perfect the technique, and another atomic test could take the country closer to its goal of building a warhead that can be mounted on a missile designed to strike the United States. North Korea has carried out two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009.

South Korean defense officials say North Korea is technically ready to conduct a nuclear test in a matter of days.

Satellite photos taken Wednesday show that over the past month, roads have been kept clear of snow and that North Koreans may have been sealing the tunnel into a mountainside where a nuclear device would be detonated.

Analysis of the images of the Punggye-ri site was provided Friday to The Associated Press by 38 North, the website of the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Kim could order a nuclear test ahead of the Feb. 16th birthday of his late father and former leader Kim Jong Il to "create a festive mood," Chin predicted. Kim Jong Il died at age 69 in December 2011.

The U.S., South Korea and other countries have warned North Korea not to go ahead with a nuclear test, saying that would only deepen the country's international isolation.

After meeting with Chinese officials Friday, U.S. envoy for North Korea Glyn Davies said a nuclear test would set back efforts to restart regional talks on the North's nuclear disarmament.

North Korea has accused the U.S. and South Korea of leading the push for the U.N. Security Council resolution.

Sunday's KCNA dispatch said the U.N. punishment indicates U.S. hostility toward North Korea has reached its highest point. North Korea warned South Korea on Friday of "strong physical countermeasures" if Seoul takes part in the U.N. sanctions.

Japan on Sunday launched two intelligence satellites into orbit amid concerns about North Korea's threats to conduct more rocket launches and a nuclear test.

The launch was in the planning stages long before the ongoing tensions with North Korea, but underscores Japan's longstanding wariness of its neighbor's abilities and intentions. Japan began its intelligence satellite program after North Korea fired a long-range missile over Japan's main island in 1998.

__

Associated Press writer Eric Talmadge contributed to this report from Tokyo.

...

http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-leader-vows-strong-action-042151410.html

We need to stop this guy:

"Sunday's KCNA dispatch said the U.N. punishment indicates U.S. hostility toward North Korea has reached its highest point. North Korea warned South Korea on Friday of "strong physical countermeasures" if Seoul takes part in the U.N. sanctions.:"

"It warned that it would keep developing rockets and testing nuclear devices to counter what it sees as U.S. hostility. A rare statement was issued Thursday by the powerful National Defense Commission, the top governing body led by Kim."


"North Korea is estimated to have enough weaponized plutonium for four to eight bombs, according to American nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker, who visited the country's nuclear complex northwest of Pyongyang in November 2010.

However, it is not known whether North Korean scientists have found a way to build nuclear warheads small enough to mount on a long-range missile."


He needs taken out, plain and simple, IMO.  Something drastic needs done here.  We cannot sanction them anymore, and if South Korea joins in the sanctions, it could push him over the edge.  Time for SOME kind of action.  This is some scary sh*t.

[brice1967]

This guy is nuttier than squirrel poop.  He makes his goofy father seem sensible.  

[nursegirl6572]

Oh yes he does.  Sheesh.  Dangerous man with dangerous toys.  If he figures out how to make a long-range nuke (if he hasn't already)...we won't have to worry about all of the other issues we're facing.

[brice1967]

I would really like to know the true feelings of "his" people about how they "really" feel about him.  (They won't talk because of what can potentially happen.)

[brice1967]

North Korea is so crappy that Koreans actually defect to China.....

[adgal]

I think this guy is another lunatic that is going to have to be dealt with in the near future.  He is in the same catagory as Iran's loony.  Did anyone see that documentary on North Korea just as he was assuming power?  Talk about mass brainwashing.  These folks are subjected to constant propaganda and lots actually believe their leader to be a demi God.  It's the craziest thing I've ever seen..and that is saying something..lol.  And yes, they do make runs for the Chinese border....some of the film footage actually showed people being half way across and literally being dragged back by their feet.  

I have no problem at all believing this guy could set off a nuclear test bomb.  I mean, when you believe your a God, your not going to fear reprisal's right?  He is one scary guy.

[nursegirl6572]

These folks are subjected to constant propaganda and lots actually believe their leader to be a demi God.

I'll be nice...lol.  Some people right here in our own country fall in this same category.  lol

He IS nuts though...send a SEALS team in and get it over with already!

[adgal]

Now now....lol

Big difference though. In North Korea there are absolutely no outside influences in terms of media or television.  It is 100% gov't sanctioned, or no go.  It's like they live in a glass bubble or something.  A bunch of zombies - scary.