United States warns N. Korea against making ‘mistake’ by conducting nuclear, missile test
September 16, 2015 by River Gaines
“All the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon including the uranium enrichment plant and 5 megawatt reactor were rearranged, changed or readjusted and they started normal operation”, a North Korean Atomic Energy Institute director was quoted as saying.
But this is nothing new, North Korea has made numerous threats against South Korea and the United States in the past.
North Korean state media trumpeted a now-familiar litany of threats, including the use of nuclear weapons against the United States “and other hostile forces” at any time if they “persistently seek their reckless hostile policy towards the [North] and behave mischievously”.
On Monday, the North’s aerospace agency said it is ready to launch new satellites aboard long-range rockets.
North Korea has also helped Iran supply Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists; Iran, of course, is responsible for thousands of American military casualties in Iraq. The nuclear program of North Korea is often used as a way to threaten and protect their leaders.
But Kim said Seoul has not seen any signs that Pyongyang is preparing for a launch.
The 70th anniversary of its ruling party is less than a month away and many believe it could fire an upgraded ballistic missile during that time.
When North Korea put its first satellite into space in late 2012, the United Nations announced it was a banned test of ballistic missile technology and immediately imposed sanctions. Military tensions escalated to a new peak after two South Korean soldiers were injured by land mines planted by the North inside the demilitarized zone, but Seoul and Pyongyang managed to ease animosities through marathon negotiations by top security officials.
We can’t but point out a couple of contradictions in the North’s stance about the missile launch, albeit with much reluctance because it may fan Pyongyang’s puerile solipsistic tendency of self-righteousness. “The resolutions by the United Nations Security Council should be fully implemented”.
The former has been under development since 2009, and was initially said by North Korea to be designed to produce low-enriched uranium to fuel the planned experimental light water, which would in turn allow for increased electricity generation in the country.
The North’s nuclear and missile threats came as its neighbors pressured the communist regime’s young ruler to stop his brinkmanship. Later that year it threatened Seoul and Washington with nuclear strikes.
Asked if there were indications North Korea is on the verge of a launch or test, he replied, “I’m not going to talk about intelligence from this podium”.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. There is no question about it. Japan would follow the U.S.
Observers say that the North’s increasingly harsh criticism of Park’s efforts for reunification could hurt the emerging mood for cross-border dialogue and further raise uncertainties for her “peninsular trust-building” policy.
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