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S. Korea: Government on Alert to Monitor Signs of N. Korean Nuclear Test '24 Hours a Day'
Yonhap News ^ | 08/20/06 | Kim Kwi-geun, Lee Kwi-won

Posted on 08/19/2006 10:37:22 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

/begin my translation

Government on Alert to Monitor Signs of N. Korean Nuclear Test '24 Hours a Day'

A military monitoring team dispatched to the Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources
A few additional monitoring stations set up and in operation along DMZ

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Kim Kwi-geun, Lee Kwi-won correspondent =The government and military authorities went into all-out monitoring of N. Korean nuclear test because the chance of N. Korea going ahead with the test shot up after N. Korea launched missiles on July 5, and UN passed resolution against N. Korea.

A government source said in Aug. 20, "6-party talks on N. Korean nuke is still in deadlock. After the missile launches, it is our view that there are higher chances than ever that N. Korea would go ahead with underground nuclear test.  We are in airtight monitoring 24 hour a day."

According to the source, the government is conducting its monitoring through Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources, located at Daeduk Research Park in Taejon, which is a seismic activity monitoring institute under Ministry of Science and Technology.

In particular, in a rare top secret move, six soldiers were recently assigned to the Institute for monitoring duty of the N. Korean test. Military used to have little reason for dispatching soldiers to the Institute.

The soldiers dispatched all majored in Natural Resource Engineering or Geology before they were drafted for military service. They were screened and selected in accordance with the requirements. For now, they are assigned to the Institute until early Nov.. 

It said, "As far as I know, it is not the Institute which requested the dispatch of the soldiers. It was decided on the government level."

Their dispatch was a decision by the government and it went through Joint Chief of Staffs and Ministry of Defense.

It went on, "Soldiers do not play a critical role in the monitoring. Rather their presence is to ensure 24-hour monitoring. They are basically on watch duty."

Since the soldiers would be discharged after completing their (preset period of) service, it would be difficult to continue the monitoring uninterrupted. For that reason, the Institute made a separate request to the government.

S. Korea joined Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT), and conducts its monitoring of N. Korean nuclear test at Wonju Seismic Monitoring Station(KSRS.)

In addition, it is said that a few additional monitoring stations are set up along DMZ and in operation.
 
A government official, regarding Aug. 17 U.S. report of possible N. Korean nuclear test, said, "After the UN resolution in response to the missile launches, N. Korea said that they are readying 'a more powerful stuff.' The logical possibility (of N. Korean nuclear test) prompted us to do the monitoring." 


Another official emphasized, "When N. Korea said it will show something bigger last month upon their missile launches, it meant nuclear test. We find it quite possible, and stepped up our monitoring. It will continue to be a possibility."

N. Korea warned, on July 6, right after missile launches, and on July 16, after the UN resolution was passed, "Any attempt to pressure us will compel us to take much stronger physical action."

/end my translation


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 24hourwatch; august22; koera; military; missilelaunch; monitoring; nknukes; northkorea; nucleartest; proliferation; secretassignment; seismicactivity; southkorea; underground
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1 posted on 08/19/2006 10:37:26 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo; OahuBreeze; yonif; risk; Steel Wolf; nuconvert; MizSterious; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 08/19/2006 10:38:23 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

does anyone know if NK has a nuclear weapon

or will this be their big coming up party together with the Iran


3 posted on 08/19/2006 10:40:27 PM PDT by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: AmericanInTokyo
Here is the full translation of the entire Yonhap article in Korean, which your post referred to in http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686262/posts?page=495#495

The site also has an English version which is less detailed, though.

4 posted on 08/19/2006 10:41:47 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: Flavius
Re #3

They have enough materials and time to work on it. We will see if it really works.

It is possible that Iran will do something concurrently with N. Koreans. It is to their advantage to try it.

5 posted on 08/19/2006 10:44:47 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: Flavius
The NKs supposedly have several according to estimates. It more than possible that the NKs are sharing their nuclear technology with Iran. They are already working with Iran on their missile program. If there is a test, you can be guaranteed that Iranian representatives will be there.
6 posted on 08/19/2006 10:45:10 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Wars may be fought by weapons, but they are won by men.- General George Patton)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
It is possible that Iran will do something concurrently with N. Koreans. It is to their advantage to try it.

Wanna bet they wait until the 22nd of August (Iranian time)?

7 posted on 08/19/2006 10:50:15 PM PDT by ExSoldier (Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.)
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To: ExSoldier
Re #7

Only two days away? I am not sure.

8 posted on 08/19/2006 10:53:47 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

we are now at the Crossroads of this war America must take a true stand


9 posted on 08/19/2006 10:57:53 PM PDT by StoneWall Brigade (AMERICA LAND OF THE FREE BECASUE OF THE BRAVE!)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
The English article on the same topic at Yonhap News site:

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20060820/610000000020060820141520E8.html

(LEAD) S. Korea intensifies monitoring on N. Korean nukes, sources say

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has stepped up monitoring of North Korea's nuclear activity following reports of the secretive state's alleged preparations for the underground test of an atomic bomb, defense sources here said Sunday.

South Korea does not rule out the possibility that the North will conduct a nuclear test within this year to either draw international attention or strengthen its self-defense measures, they added.

"The Defense Ministry is on a 24-hour vigil to deal with North Korea's potential nuclear test," an informed source said. "The ministry has already dispatched six skilled soldiers to the Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources, a state-run organization to monitor seismic tremors on the Korean Peninsula."

South Korea, with the help of the United States, has been monitoring the North's nuclear program since the 1980s, but it is quite rare for Seoul to maintain such vigilance around the clock in cooperation with a government research center, the source added.

But the government denied any connection between the heightened surveillance and the recent report on Pyongyang's possible nuclear test.

"The government has been pushing to strengthen the monitoring of North Korea's nuclear activity since early July, and related measures are under way," a government official said.

Late last week, U.S.-based ABC News quoted ranking U.S. officials as saying Washington detected new evidence of the North's possible preparations for a nuclear test.

The South Korean and U.S. governments refused to confirm the intelligence-related reports.

North Korea defied international warnings and test-fired a series of missiles on July 5 (Seoul time), which prompted the United Nations Security Council to adopt a punitive resolution against Pyongyang.

North Korea immediately responded with a threat to take stronger actions.

"We have already clarified that we will have no option but to take stronger physical actions should someone take issue with our army's missile launch training for self-defense and put pressure on it," a statement by North Korea's Foreign Ministry read.

If North Korea's traditional brinkmanship is any guide, the unpredictable state may take another provocative step, as it has few cards to play, analysts in Seoul say.

U.S. President George W. Bush said Saturday that, "If North Korea were to conduct a test, it's just a constant reminder for people in the neighborhood in particular that North Korea poses a threat and we expect our friend, those sitting around the table with us, to act in such a manner as to help rid the world of the threat."

He was referring to six-way talks on the North's nuclear program that also involve South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia, and Japan.

The Beijing-based negotiations were last held nine months ago, and Pyongyang is now boycotting the talks to protest Washington's crackdown on the communist nation's alleged financial crimes including the counterfeiting of U.S. dollars.

10 posted on 08/19/2006 11:19:01 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: Flavius

Yes, they have nukes. This would most likely be a test with the intent of showing off for Iranian guests who are probably quite interested in buying some of that tech.


11 posted on 08/19/2006 11:26:08 PM PDT by NinoFan
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To: Flavius
Can someone tell me what the comotion is about? If NK tests, who cares?

If NK has a thousand nukes, who cares and what can we do about it? Nothing.

We should be concerned with the spread of nukes from NK to the outside world, but otherwise they've got them. It's not worth huffing and puffing about it.

12 posted on 08/19/2006 11:49:07 PM PDT by zarf
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To: ExSoldier
Wanna bet they wait until the 22nd of August (Iranian time)?

Betting against that would not be a wise bet IMHO. But I'm not a gambling man.

13 posted on 08/20/2006 5:47:36 AM PDT by b4its2late (There are good terrorists - dead ones.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

gracias


14 posted on 08/20/2006 6:05:36 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (A few clever bones tossed on gay unions, flag burning & Iraq still don't absolve GWB over BORDERS)
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To: Flavius

It's widely believed in intelligence communities that they have some, but the numbers I've always heard are low...like less than 10, probably closer to 5...but those estimates are getting a bit outdated now, and if they only had that few, testing one would only deplete a very small stock, which tells me that if this is a legit thing, then they've got way more now.

We should never have allowed the Korean War to end the way it did...I'm not a fan of wars whatsoever, but my god they should've forseen this kind of crap.


15 posted on 08/20/2006 8:44:17 AM PDT by anthropos
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Thanks again for your translation work.


16 posted on 08/20/2006 2:33:39 PM PDT by Donna Lee Nardo
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Only a day or two ago, the ROK was expressing doubt that N. Korea is really planning any test.


17 posted on 08/21/2006 12:57:34 AM PDT by familyop (Essayons)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Thank you for the translation.


18 posted on 08/21/2006 12:59:20 AM PDT by familyop (Essayons)
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To: zarf

Iran military engineers on hand for N. Korea missile launch
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1664760/posts

10 Iranian Missile Engineers Visited N. Korea:Sankei reports(check on NK's Chinese equipments)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1658850/posts


19 posted on 08/21/2006 1:03:34 AM PDT by familyop (Essayons)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

It's, like the South Korean's have previously stated regarding North Korean actions, simply North Korea protecting the South against the evil designs of the 'warmongering pigs' of America.

So why is South Korea so worried? They'll be 'protected'...

(I wonder how the future generations of South Koreans view this...)


20 posted on 08/21/2006 2:59:33 PM PDT by gogogodzilla (I criticize everyone... and then breath some radioactive fire and stomp on things.)
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