Posted on 10/09/2006 5:00:56 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
[Yonhap News 2006-10-09 19:15]
Head of S. Korean Intelligence, "Additional nuclear tests are certainly possible"
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Kim Nam-kwon, Lee Seung-woo = S. Korean government is busy analyzing signs of unusual movements in the afternoon of Oct. 9 at Pung-gye-ri, Gilju County, a different place from Munsudan-ri, Hwadae County, N. Hamkyong Province, where today's nuclear test occurred.
Kim Seung-kyu, Head of S. Korean Intelligence, attended the full session of Intelligence Committee of National Assembly this afternoon. When someone asked, "Have you pinpointed the N. Korean nuclear test site?" he added this information, while giving his answer.
He said, "Starting at 3pm this afternoon, we spotted unusual movements at Pung-gye-ri, where we first thought the test would be conducted. They are movements of 30~40 personnels and vehicles. We are looking into it carefully," according to a member of the Committee.
Mr. Kim went on, "We try to figure out if they plan to do a series of tests as India and Pakistan did."
Another member of the Committee said that Mr. Kim reported, "There is ample possibility that N. Korea would conduct additional nuclear tests."
According to the member, S. Korean Intelligence estimates that the nuclear bomb which went off today is a subcritical bomb whose yield is less than 1 kt.
Thanks for the post.
I heard speculation about this last night.
Ping!
would not suprise me, the message here is they have a 'lot' of them and want us to think so...
Interesting
Shaping up to be a busy day.
For this one... they'll want to see if it works below the 38th Parallel.
Hmmmmm..well, well...busy fellow.
If they do another one, they are ASKING for BIG trouble..
I didn't think they would do another so fast. If they do, then it's for effect and has nothing to do with real testing.
It worked for a while when the Soviets did it in the 50's.
A second one would be for China's benefit --- China is the one supporting Kim and his regime.
Yep, they want to show us that they have a super duper triple over-easy big stuff.:)
Can someone more informed than me tell me where they are getting the fuel? I thought I'd read there are no natural sources in that country, so all sources are external.(?)
If they have a finite amount, I say let them set off fireworks, provided we can prevent them from getting more.
I am aware that, using the residual explosion by-products, we have the ability to tell what fuel and from where it came, true?
Exactly...but I'm thinking China may start to get a bit PO'ed...this is not doing them any good either...Japan and S Korea will decide to go nuke too...
Kim has embarrassed China. I hope the Chinese see it that way.
They harvest enough plutonium from spent fuel rod from their nuclear reactors. They also have good-size uranium mine. However, harvesting weapon's grade uranium is slow and time-consuming process, according to what I know.
China's Hamlet moment:
Who do I hate more, N. Korea or U.S.?
This has been a really difficult question to answer until today, as far as China is concerned.
Do we really need to concerned over the size? Or is there another tactic being evaluated? I am thinking about the "failed" fireworks test from July and now this. Is it possible there is something going on behind the scenes we just have missed?
http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/NBC/EMP.article.html
Nothing quite like intelligence that never gets acted upon. The world might as well be kicked up in the La-z-boy, watching the show with a bucket of popcorn, or kimchee if you prefer.
We have a very good idea about how much fissionable material they have. They know that we know.
What is more likely is that they these are incremental tests designed to test critical components and triggering processes without wasting the plutonium that they do have.
First test: fine tune the triggers and timing mechanisms with a marginal (500 ton) yield device. Second test: scale it up and trigger a 5-10 kiloton weapons yield and grade device.
Another try. Then it'll be best two of three. 500 tons yield is a failure. The fissioned mass is a vanishingly small fraction of the device mass - truly a dirty bomb.
China will not be happy if Japan and S Korea are given nukes. China has much to ponder today, just like you said. The child they have been supporting has shown himself to be an unmanageable brat.
I'm sure there will be plenty of strategic carrier movements on the US side, off the coast of Japan.
The Chinese, Russians, North Koreans, Iranians, Pakistanis etc are all in this together. It's an orchestrated series.
Since the US changed planning so as not to have the capacity to win two major conflicts at the same time, they know that the US will be unable to fight and win in Iraq,Afghanistan,Iran, and Korea, at the same time.
The Chinese condemnations are just hot air.
Wait for the Security Council meeting, and you will see a long procession of apologists, and obstructionists.
We'll soon find out.
The left will then claim we're provoking him.
THAT is most worrisome. He doesn't give a damn anyway, so with his failing health, what's to stop him from trying to take out as many people with him as he possibly can?
I believe the threat of an EMP device is highly over blown.
In addition, it is much more difficult to make a truly affective EMP device than it is to make a nuke.
GOOD
According to the Russian government the first one was no "fizzle", it was between 5 and 15 kilotons. About 10 times larger than original South Korean estimates.
They might try to do something crazy here in the next few weeks.
I don't know. He issues statements when he wishes.
I'll trust the Russians on this one. They know a thing or two about nuclear testing and have no reason to lie about this. They can't be happy about this either.
I'm curious as to your reasons for this statement.
A few Chinese assassins would be very effective, if they decided that was the case.
Poking him with a stick? ;->
Kinda like if Young Mr. Grace at Grace Brothers had nukes?
Didn't China steal some of our EMP blueprints?
If Japan & South Korea gets nukes,you have to remember that they have plenty of serious issues among themselves.If Japan & South Korea had a cohesive stand on North Korea,The Dear Leader would have been history by now.China would'nt be as dis-advantaged by such a development as you think.
I agree, even if it just rumor, we can never discount or Ohio-class/trident subs, sure to be floating near South Korea...
Indeed. The Chinese have access to him. He needs the Chinese.
I knew it! I knew it! I think we might see three or four of these total by the time Little Kim Boy is done.
Crap, the baby trigger worked, so now they want to test the real deal? ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.