North Korea Joins the Nuclear Club
NYT:
Here is the statement released by North Korea:
Technorati tags: North+Korea / Nuclear+Weapon+Test / Kim+Jong-Il / United+Nations+Security+Council / Bush / Nuke
North Korea said Sunday night that it had set off its first nuclear test, becoming the eighth country in history, and arguably the most unstable and most dangerous, to proclaim that it has joined the club of nuclear weapons states. The test came just two days after the country was warned by the United Nations Security Council that the action could lead to severe consequences. Senior Bush administration officials said they had little reason to doubt the country’s announcement, and warned that it would usher in a new era of confrontation with the isolated and unpredictable country run by President Kim Jong-il.Kudos to The Times for placing this in the proper context:
The explosion was the product of nearly four decades of work by North Korea, one of the world’s poorest and most isolated countries, a country of 23 million people that appears constantly fearful that its far richer, more powerful neighbors — and particularly the United States — will try to unseat its leadership. The country’s founder, Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994, emerged from the Korean war determined to equal the power of the United States, and acutely aware that Gen. Douglas MacArthur had requested nuclear weapons to use against his country.This seems to be a lesson that is lost on the Bush administration: military conflict can have longstanding ramifications. I sincerely hope the U.S. responds to this without resorting to violence.
Here is the statement released by North Korea:
"The field of scientific research in the DPRK successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, 2006, at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great, prosperous, powerful socialist nation.
"It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under scientific consideration and careful calculation.
"The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 percent. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defense capability.
"It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the area around it."
Technorati tags: North+Korea / Nuclear+Weapon+Test / Kim+Jong-Il / United+Nations+Security+Council / Bush / Nuke
