U.S. Officials Say There are Indications North Korea is Preparing for a Third Nuclear Test
EmailABC News' Luis Martinez reports: U.S. officials say there are indications that North Korea may be preparing for a third nuclear test. A U.S. official tells ABCNews,”We can’t rule out the possibility that North Korea will detonate another nuclear device. There are signs that they may be considering this, but it’s unclear if ultimately they will go through with a test. All options appear to be on the North Korean regime’s table.” As early as Friday, the United Nations Security Council could pass a resolution to impose tough sanctions against North Korea for the nuclear test conducted this past Memorial Day. The draft resolution would allow countries to interdict North Korean vessels that might be carrying sensitive material or arms and impose tougher financial restrictions to prevent funding for North Korea’s military and nuclear programs. Seismic readings at the time of North Korea’s second nuclear test indicated a “seismic event” measuring 4.5 on the Richter Scale, presumed to be from an underground nuclear test. However, initial testing of air samples taken shortly after the test two weeks ago have proved inconclusive for the presence of radioactive isotopes. The Office of Director Of National Intelligence (ODNI) is expected to release its final conclusions on the air samples possibly as early as Friday.
North Korea’s first nuclear test in October 2006 was considered to be a dud because it produced a smaller Richter reading of 4.1 and released minimal radioactive isotopes. Recent activity at North Korea’s long range missile launch facilities seems to indicate that the possible launches of mid-range and long-range missiles do not seem imminent. Officials say that missile components, for what is believed to be a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, recently delivered to North Korea’s western launch facility at TongChang Dong have not been stacked on the launch pad. A US official says “we’re a ways away [from a launch], if it happens at all.” A Defense official also says there has not been any new activity at this facility that would indicate a missile is being prepared for launch. Activity at North Korea’s eastern launch facility at Musudan Ri had led to speculation in the South Korean media North Korea might be preparing for a mid-range missile there, but a Defense official said there had not been any stacking activity at that location either. He indicated that though movement has been detected at both missile sites, “we haven’t seen them putting anything together” at either facility. The North launched a long-range Taepodong-2 missile on April 5 that traveled 2,000 miles and landed in the Pacific Ocean, but US officials considered that test to be a failure because the missile’s third stage failed to separate from its second stage and fell into the ocean.
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he’s too busy waiting on Kim to ask him for his and his ‘prompter’s autograph. Again, the state controlled media is trying to make Barry look presidential.
Posted by: marco | June 11, 2009, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
Maybe Obama should give the North Korean’s an APOLOGY SPEECH.That ought to make them love us.LOL
Posted by: CW | June 11, 2009, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
Poor Republicans. So frustrating to be down to 20%. Snarl snarl snarl
Posted by: Ralph N | June 11, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Kim Jong-il is a SUPERVILLIAN!
He has kidnapped two attractive female reporters and is holding them hostage while demanding direct negotiations with Superman (Obama) for millions of dollars which he will use to complete his doomsday weapons which he will use to threaten the world for billions more dollars!
Posted by: IMT | June 11, 2009, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
SO WHAT.
LET THEM ALL GET CANCER FROM THEIR TESTS.
NO ONE, I REPEAT, NO ONE WILL ATTACK THE US OF A WITH NUKES, BECAUSE THEY WILL BE SMOTE OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
THEY HAVE 3 WARHEADS.
WE HAVE 24,000 WARHEADS.
COUNT THAT GOP-HERS.
THE REST IS BULL.
Posted by: CHUCK | June 11, 2009, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
barry ain’t going to use no warehead. he’s too scared
Posted by: marco | June 11, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
CHUCK…….Do you think Obama has the nerve to use them? I don’t.
Posted by: CW | June 11, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Why has the UN resolution taken so long?
Posted by: Irishrose | June 11, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
UN????LOL that’s too funny. what, are they going put them on double, secret, super duper, extra crispy probation? The UN???LOL oh my
Posted by: marco | June 11, 2009, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
Where’s the love from North Korea since we’ve voted this fraudster into office? Where’s the love from Iran?
Posted by: Gina | June 11, 2009, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
Where’s Madeline Albright when you need her?
Please seriously do all take a moment to think of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, being held by North Korea tonight.
Posted by: MayBee | June 11, 2009, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
In addition, is it possible North Korea just attempted to launder $134,000,000,000.00 in counterfeit U.S.Treasuries?”Milan (AsiaNews) – Italy’s financial police (Guardia italiana di Finanza) has seized US bonds worth US 134.5 billion from two Japanese nationals at Chiasso (40 km from Milan) on the border between Italy and Switzerland. They include 249 US Federal Reserve bonds worth US$ 500 million each, plus ten Kennedy bonds and other US government securities worth a billion dollar each.
Italian authorities have not yet determined whether they are real or fake, but if they are real the attempt to take them into Switzerland would be the largest financial smuggling operation in history; if they are fake, the matter would be even more mind-boggling because the quality of the counterfeit work is such that the fake bonds are undistinguishable from… “
Posted by: pauldia | June 11, 2009, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
UN needs to attack NK. The world can’t wait for NK to develop nuclear weapons and threaten the world to get and force aid. UN need to set an example to other rogue nations that they cannot threaten other nations sovereignty.
CHUCK – the threat is NOT America, the threat is to S.Korean, Japan.
Posted by: John | June 11, 2009, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
And the impact of this on NASA’s June 17, 2009 return to the Moon will be what? And how will the United States intelligence ensure their intelligence gathering methodology is correct and not a travesty of negligent fact checking such as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident — Vietnam. 2nd Persian Gulf War — IRAQ. You better be darn right this time, life staffers at the Pentagon, because mutually assured destruction is not a War Game video any more. The job of a US President is to avoid war (J. F. Kennedy). What kind of counter measurers do we have in place for overzealous intelligence gatherers who want to promulgate their mistakes another round? You be certain you know what you are talking about before you run another headline that undermines our perception of security and sanctuary. You’re destroy a generation of peace seekers and I am sure Edward Teller, James Fletcher would be the first to turn you around to peace time applications of nuclear power. BE DARN SURE THESE PEOPLE HAVEN’T JUST BEAT THE U.S., TO THE PUNCH LINE — DESK TOP SIZED NUCLEAR- FIRED ELECTRIC POWER GENERATORS. We already know that that desk-top sized methane-food conversion reactors are fueling homes in Cairo. As President Johnson said — for all “I know — the 2nd event could have been a fishing boat.” Get it right the first time — this time!
Posted by: WISDOM | June 11, 2009, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
“UN needs to attack NK.”
I wonder what China would have to say about that.
Posted by: Skip | June 11, 2009, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
perhaps jong ill is jeleous that his ring was not kissed? perhaps we should exchange reve wright for the 2 americans who stuck their noses where they dont belong
Posted by: catman | June 11, 2009, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
Concerned in OH – NK didn’t just whip these up in the last five months! Instead of being concerned, think for once! Geesh!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 11, 2009, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
===The job of a US President is to avoid war (J. F. Kennedy). ===
Vietnam.
The job of the US President is clearly defined in the constitution. In case you’re interested.
Posted by: Axey | June 11, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Since NK is so determined on seeing nuclear weapons maybe we show them some up close and personal. Give the women and children a chance to flee to SK and then make SK an island.
Posted by: Trab | June 11, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
Chuck 8:39:36
Guess you forgot that Obama “The Appeaser” runs the show now.
Posted by: Trajan | June 11, 2009, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
Does anybody really care out there? N. Korea has been at this for a while. Why the interest all of a sudden? If Russia and China and so interested let them lead this effort. Why do we have to thin out our troops? I’m sure they have the capability to correct this problem without U.S. intervention. Let N. Korea test all they want. They have to know they’ll be a barren wasteland if they try something stupid.
Posted by: d kolich | June 11, 2009, 10:12 pm 10:12 pm
Obama likely will state that North Korea is entitled to nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes.
Posted by: drjohn | June 11, 2009, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
drjohn:”Obama likely will state that North Korea is entitled to nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes.”
Has he ever stated anything like that before? If you understand English and listen to his actual past statements, he certainly has not approved of any country violating non-proliferation by developing nuclear weapons.
Posted by: jhw539 | June 11, 2009, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
Jake, are you going to cover Obama’s 20 Czars and why should care about this dangerous road Obama is taking with having so many Czars.
Posted by: frieda | June 11, 2009, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
Out threats seem to be working.
Posted by: Huh | June 11, 2009, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
frieda – it’s the press that calls them Czars, not Pres. Obama. Geesh!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 11, 2009, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
Trajan – Sorry you feel actually talking with people is appeasement. Aren’t those rather old talking points?
Posted by: Try the truth | June 11, 2009, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
Oh who cares! Obama is popular. I’m going to go hug my unicorn now. All is well.
Posted by: Obot | June 12, 2009, 12:28 am 12:28 am
But, but…won’t testing more nukes make Barry and Hillary upset?
How could they! I mean, after all, they’ve been so darn nice to them! ;-(
Posted by: Dugan | June 12, 2009, 1:36 am 1:36 am
amazing how many here seem willing to sacrifice South Korea for some macho show of force..
guess all that death and destruction really doesn’t matter as long as you can make some fearful threat forecast about the imaginary end of America via N. Korea… like Iraq 1000 fold
Posted by: 1776 | June 12, 2009, 2:17 am 2:17 am
Dear Mr. Obama.
Welcome to Earth.
We hope Mars landing is not difficult for you.
Clearly, such a long stay outside the atmosphere is causing disruption mentally.
We wish you health quickly as possible.
Just do not forget to tighten the belts before landing.
Oh yeah, do not click on the red button, it’s not room service.
Try not to make too much damages, while your staying.
By the way, you’re a great dancer, but the music you make is terrible.
PS
Give regards to ET, we all miss
Oh, I almost forgot, I heard you are seeking for a global uranium fuel bank.
well, how about north korea?
I’m glad to hear that you are promoting the reform on health.
I would suggest that you primarily to ensure free psychiatric treatments.
Revealed to me that the problems in your head are not the weird ears.
UFO
Posted by: Ofer | June 12, 2009, 8:11 am 8:11 am
Where’s Jake? Uh-Oh
Posted by: mary | June 12, 2009, 8:14 am 8:14 am
Gee, you would think those letters from the UN and those tepid “stern” words from Obama would have scared the bejesus out of Kim Jong Il.
Doesn’t he know liberals think Obama is a god, and he hath spake (or something like that)?
Isn’t he concerned “the one” will send him yet another useless, vapid, empty note?
I don’t understand this. I though with Obama in office everything would “change” for the better, not worse?
Huh, what do you know?
Posted by: MNM | June 12, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am
I think Hillary Clinton summed it up..some time ago..
‘Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002′
Maybe he should dust if off, and give it again.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 12, 2009, 9:06 am 9:06 am
Why isn’t all of this diplomacy working? It’s almost like NK doesn’t care what we say or do. Maybe Kim Jong-il’s cool sunglasses protect him from falling under Obama’s spell. One look into those eyes….
Posted by: andylancaster | June 12, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am
..ok.. will Gibby say anything about the U.N. Security Council?
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 12, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Never in my life could I ever imagine myself saying, “man, I wish Hillary had won!” Compared to what’s going on right now, I wish their roles were reversed. At least she doesn’t appear weak!!!
Posted by: Obama, The Second Coming | June 12, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am
I think that it is important to understand something, why nuclear armed rogue nations are so dangerous.
NK has one leader. The mental state of that leader, especially one that is head of a nation in a desperate situation, is subject to irrational thought and behavior, be it through illness or just plain calculated national suicide. History has shown that dictators are willing to destroy their nations in desperate situations. This is what makes NK so dangerous. While there is little threat that NK could destroy the US, they could nuke a few cities before we could even respond. Flight time from NK would be roughly 33 minutes, thats not much time to respond.
So if we sit by and allow developments to take place with no real consequences, we inch closer and closer to a very dangerous scenario, on the Ballistic Missile Defense system was meant to counter. BMD also had some pretty serious cuts by this administration.
But America is safer cause he is popular, yipee.
Posted by: KR | June 12, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am
I guess we need to have our recommended daily allowance of right-wing induced fear for today. Nobody is going to do anything about North Korea without dealing with China first. You might as well not even mention North Korea without addressing China in the very same sentence every time.
Posted by: Skip | June 12, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am
“You might as well not even mention North Korea without addressing China in the very same sentence every time.”
China has been consistantly distancing themselves from NK for the last decade. The facade that China has some sort of major influence over NK is either a carefully fabricated story, or its completely false as China has given public protest over the latest nuke tests. So which is it? Are they influential over NK or not? If not, why do they matter as much?
China has just as much interest in the stability of our nation as other economic allies do. I used to think that China was the key, I don’t believe that anymore. I believe China has more interest in our nation through the economic ties than they do with NK. It has happened slowly over time, but I think it has come to fruition in recent years.
I can say what China and South Korea do not want, a reunification of Korea. China and SK know they would get mass migration if the NK government colapsed.
So a garantee of status quo, but elimination of the instability of the missile/nuke program is most likely appealing to China.
Posted by: KR | June 12, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
We’ve got to get China off their butts and do something about this instead of blaming our own administrations and the UN for lack of action. They fought viciously in Korea to demonstrate that they will not tolerate foreign interference on the Korean Peninsula. It is their responsibility to manage it.
Posted by: Skip | June 12, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am
“We’ve got to get China off their butts and do something about this instead of blaming our own administrations and the UN for lack of action.”
I only partly agree. I think China needs to get off its butt and support (or offer) actions by the UN and the US. Given the economic ties between China and the US, we have for more leverage for stern actions now than we have had in the past. All of the parties need to come to an agreement of when force is appropriate if sanctions/diplomatic actions continue to fail.
Posted by: KR | June 12, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
I only partly agree. I think China needs to get off its butt and support (or offer) actions by the UN and the US. Given the economic ties between China and the US, we have for more leverage for stern actions now than we have had in the past. All of the parties need to come to an agreement of when force is appropriate if sanctions/diplomatic actions continue to fail.
=================
Which is why Bush pushed for 6-party talks rather than relying on direct talks.
Posted by: MayBee | June 12, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
it’s time to start thinking solutions. do we bomb NK? there will be no american will to go into NK against their standing army. the only option is strategic bombing of NK’s nuclear sites and have all our and SK’s troops and tanks at the border.
there are only two options (as with Iran): negotiate or bomb. simple enough, yeh?
Posted by: Paul Wall | June 12, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
why are we getting so worried so what we have norad we have the finest army in the world we have every thing and we are hypocrits we have nukes too why should they not have some they are not stupid or politically unstable they will never use them because they know what will happen in retaliation
Posted by: saab | June 12, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Obama, the 2nd coming:
I always thought that Hillary would be the worst case scenario.. I am in complete agreement with you.. even Joe Biden sounds good – at times.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 12, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Actually Paul there is only two realistic options: 1) Bomb 2) Allow these rouge countries to acquire nuclear weapons.. Negotiation isn’t going to work with NK or Iran..They are too involved in marking their territory..They want to be part of the nuclear nations, period dot.
Posted by: Parallax View | June 12, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm