N. KOREA "HELPING BURMA WITH WMD" (TOP STORY!)

Chosun Ilbo News, Seoul ^ | 25 June 2009 (59th anniversary of start of Korean War) | Chosun Ilbo, Seoul, S. Korea (English)

[AmericanInTokyo]

N.Korea 'Helping Burma with WMD'North Korea is helping Burma with the acquisition of so-called weapons of mass destruction, with the U.S. claiming that the North Korean ship Kangnam is headed for the Southeast Asian country.

The Burmese junta "has bought technologies on the open market that are potentially usable in a nuclear program, and North Korean arms companies involved in the nuclear trade have become active" in Burma, the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday said quoting speculation by U.S., Asian and UN officials.

"North Korea has used [Burmese] ports and airstrips to transfer arms and contraband to third countries, including Iran," the daily claimed.

It said several Burmese citizens, some of them expatriates, "have claimed direct knowledge of a nuclear weapons program, including a reactor under construction near Maymyo."

Quoting Yale University's Center for the Study of Globalization, the paper said relations between the two isolated dictatorships are getting closer to the point where North Korean technicians are working at the construction of underground tunnels connecting basement floors of buildings near the remote new Burmese capital of Naypyitaw.

The daily admitted U.S. and UN officials "acknowledge there is no 'smoking gun' to back fears of nuclear proliferation inside the Southeast Asian country." But it added U.S. and Asian diplomats "draw strong similarities between the military governments in Pyongyang and Naypyitaw and their efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction as deterrents against U.S. power."

It quotes Michael Green, a former senior official the U.S. National Security Council, as speculating that given "North Korea's nuclear trade to Syria, its attempts to sell Scuds to Myanmar, and its ongoing sales of conventional arms, there's reason to be worried about a WMD relationship." englishnews@chosun.com / Jun. 25, 2009 13:11 KST

[AmericanInTokyo]

OK, MR. PRESIDENT.

YOUR MOVE.

BLINK?

STAND UP PROUDLY AND MEAN WHAT WE MEAN?

The North Korean ship "Kang Nam" which you have taken the trouble of commanding our very able US Navy [ironically at one point the John McCain] to follow all over East Asia for the last week, will be docking and unloading in a port of Myanmar (Burma) at Thilawa probably in the next 24-48 hours in an effort to proliferate Weapons of Mass Destruction--that is unless they play a chasing game and stall for time, but they cannot run on empty fuel tanks forever. They will be forced to make port somewhere in Southeast Asia, or stand their ground and fight and perish (as they foolishly did against the Japanese Coast Guard several years ago and with the Inasa firing 184 rounds with 20mm machineguns, thus sending the criminal North Korean ship and it's crew to Davy John's Locker).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping!

[2ndDivisionVet]

Does this mean the Burmese are invited to our 4th of July shindigs? What do they like on their hot dogs?

[TigerLikesRooster]

There is also a report that Burma is helping N. Korea with uranium centrifuge technology. Burmese are said to have learned their centrifuge technology from Russia. They must be opening up the second source for the technology in addition to Iran.

[LeoWindhorse]

just what he worlds needs ; a WMD supplied Myanmar
I am sure the Karen will love that .

Sink the damn ship already , machine gun any survivors

Play hard ball , no mercy

[maquiladora]

Yeah I recall reading that WSJ article a couple of days ago.

[jhpigott]

ping

[Carry_Okie]

Mayhap the O-bot is hitting a BRIC wall.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Oh I am sure every single tinhorn dictatorship's representatives will be present, quaffing down hotdogs at US Embassies around the world on 4th of July, while the DPRK baptizes the Sea of Japan with a shitload of Scuds and Nodongs. Iranians will get hot dogs. Japan and South Korea will get hot dongs.

You If we had real FREEP power overseas, I would recommend simultaneous demonstrations against/in front of US embassies and consulates by conservative Americans abroad, in tandem with liberation movement representatives from the regimes and in exile, such as Iran moderates, anti-Chavez Venezuelans, North Korean defectors/refugees, etc. and we will cook and eat our own damned hotdogs on the sidewalks outside US missions, and of course the usual anti-Obama signs for the media.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping.

[Cindy]

Thread bump.

[lentulusgracchus]

Cute.

[Brad's Gramma]

For tomorrow...

[A Navy Vet]

Sir, I find you to be THE most informed person on FR about Southeast Asian matters. I've read your posts for years and verified much of what you have claimed and foreseen.

Is the Nang Nam really getting close to port and unloading in Burma? Or is this your opinion?

If so, I believe this to be a huge test against the West, as NK's missles launches have been. I can almost understand us not shooting said missles down, but if we have positive intel that the Nang Nam is transporting illicit weaponry (possibly WMD's), that is worth our stopping.

What say you? I say we should ignore UN Security Council directives and board that ship. If it turns out there are no illicit weapons on board, we apologize. If there are, then we confiscate and dare NK to "destroy" the US as they did. Think Tridents!

Yes, I know, there are thousands of artillary installations pointed at Seoul. Bad stuff for everyone. If Il were to follow though on his recent rhetoric about disclaiming the ARMATICE then we are back at WAR!

Living in the area, what should we do?

BTW, what is Japan's popular opinion regarding re-militarizing? Is that a reality? Are you concerned? I'm not...they are a different people since our fight with them. I spent many days in port in Sasebo (sp) and others to realize they are a good people who simply want to be left alone in their pursuits.

[Bon mots]

[Proud_USA_Republican]

[A Navy Vet]

"Sink the damn ship already , machine gun any survivors. Play hard ball , no mercy."

That works for me. I simply don't care anymore. I don't care if the US blows them all to HELL! We just want to live in peace and enjoy our lives.

What part of "there are bad guys in this world" that the bleeding-hearts don't understand? I sincerely hope I don't live long enough to see our "career politicians" allow another 9/11 ten fold.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The Kang Nam 1 is indeed heading for Burma. However, ANOTHER North Korean ship they claim is carrying some noncontroversial cargo from India as we speak (hmmm, they say it is “rice”), is also heading for port(s) near the capital Yangon as well and will be docking shortly. Myanmar denies knowledge of the Kang Nam 1 coming over there.
The US Navy knows where the Kang Nam 1 is and what it is doing. They should know if they start tossing stuff overboard, but of course, much of the cargo load could be heavy and need profession dockside crane unloading. One theory I have is that the craft is rigged to blow to high hell. They will be asked to be boarded. They will be refused (natch). Then the US, perhaps with allies, will say they are coming aboard. They dont want their cargo on parade for the whole world to see, so the crew, in an effort to sink the whole damn thing AND commit mass suicide by the hardline communist party member crew (led by political officers no doubt), can all go out in a blast of glory. DPRK could claim that US did it, even though they pulled the pin themselves. It will be quite a show. Chances are “O” will let them go into Myanmar and unload, though, and the USA and the UN will be worldwide laughingstocks. I could be wrong and surprised, though. Thanks for the kudos.

[LeoWindhorse]

thank you sir and thanks for your service to our country .

[AmericanInTokyo]

All, Word out now on wires that Obama Administration is PLAYING DOWN THE NORTH KOREAN SHIP STORY.

This is EXACTLY what they did when North Korean launched a long range ICBM missile right over northern Japan on 5 April to hit in the Pacific--Japan was already on pins and needs and getting out the PAC-3s and Aegis ships. The Obama Administration came on a day or two later to "DOWNPLAY" the missile test aimed at Hawaii.

They are going to "DOWNPLAY" this damned Kang Nam thing until millions of people are suddenly and eventually blown up with a nuke. Will they "DOWNPLAY" THAT??? Speechless. Absolutely speechless.

I am private urging the Japanese to step in an seize these damn DPRK ships on the high seas on their own if they have to and can find a justification, despite Obama not crapping and getting off the pot with Kim Jong il, and accordingly putting their 120 million people in DIRECT DANGER due to this constant, sickening "DOWNPLAYING" and "APPEASEMENT".

[A Navy Vet]

"One theory I have is that the craft is rigged to blow to high hell. They will be asked to be boarded. They will be refused (natch). Then the US, perhaps with allies, will say they are coming aboard. They dont want their cargo on parade for the whole world to see, so the crew, in an effort to sink the whole damn thing AND commit mass suicide by the hardline communist party member crew (led by political officers no doubt), can all go out in a blast of glory. DPRK could claim that US did it, even though they pulled the pin themselves."

I think you're going a little bit into "conspiracy" stuff there, but then what would I know?

That aside, the UN resolution (weak as it is) said we can't board NK ships without authorization from the ship.

As you know, the USS McCain has been shadowing that ship for some days. However, I'm sure obambi won't allow our ship to board theirs. THE ONE wouldn't do anything contrary to the UN.

So again, what do we do? What is Japan willing and ready to do? I just read recently that we are selling some 20 something Raptor (F-22) fighters to Japan. I say good! Let Japan build their military back up and deal with that NK prick! If the US doesn't have the balls, Japan does. They are a democracy shifting into survival mode.

Is that a bad thing for Japan to re-militarized?

[AmericanInTokyo]

When North Korean commando teams are caught or surrounded, they commit mass suicide. There was a horrendous sight of about 18 dead N.K. bodies just off the eastern shore of South Korea when they came aboard at night for espionage and engaged in a gun battle when chased by ROK soldiers. None of them wanted to be captured alive. In 1988, when North Korean Miss Kim Hyung Hee and her male (spy) colleague were captured in the Middle East after planting the bomb on the KAL airliner (which took everyone down later over the Andaman Sea, ironically near Burma) the very first thing they did was bit off ampules of cyanide hidden in cigarettes. When North Korean commandoes were captured south of Rangoon in 1982 after the bombing trying to kill South Korean President Chun Do Hwan, one of the commandoes bit his own tongue off when cornered. Kim's male co-hort died but she survived and eventually spilled ALL the beans.

DPRK modus operandi in these missions: Sworn to suicide under direct orders from Kim Jong il. If the crew of this craft is shuttling WMD or missile parts, you can be sure they are hardline KPA members, under the same operational training and oath. When cornered, they will give up a fight. If it appears their story will become exposed they will go into suicide mode, and I would project, destroy the evidence (attempt to).

[A Navy Vet]

"thank you sir and thanks for your service to our country."

It was my honor to serve in my small way.

Always remember our Veterans, especially our combat Vets whose lives have changed from lost of limb, other horrific injuries, or the mental trauma of warfare that has turned youngsters into old men/women before their time.

They are our children, our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers, our extended family, and our friends and countrymen. They are ALL the best who represent our Nation. They VOLUNTEER to keep the wolves at bay, and let you sleep soundly at night. Bless them.

[robertwalker62]

I know the pacifist constitution and all, but how the hell does the JSDF NOT count as a military force?

Anyway, I do agree, it's time to let them loose again, as the US has enough to deal with.

(Just keep a 1000 mi exclusion zone for Jap carriers around Pearl)

[A Navy Vet]

Okay. That's interesting, but you didn't answer my question.

Is Japan really going to re-militarize as some believe in response to North Korea's nuke ambitions? What's the popular opinion there? I know that Japan has been reluctant since the WWII (Hiroshimo and Nagasaki) era, not to mention their Constitution. What's the thinking NOW in Japan?

Again, personally, I hope they do. They are no longer an Imperial Dynasty with colonial aspirations, but a very Western democracy. I hope they do re-militarize. Am I wrong to hope so? Best.

[A Navy Vet]

"I know the pacifist constitution and all, but how the hell does the JSDF NOT count as a military force? Anyway, I do agree, it's time to let them loose again, as the US has enough to deal with. (Just keep a 1000 mi exclusion zone for Jap carriers around Pearl).

What is JSDF?

Look, people and times change. Where once we were a conservative/libertarian Republic, we are now quickly sliding into a socialist/Marxist totalitarian state. Not quite there yet, but every passing day brings us closer.

Japan was once a totalitarian nation with imperialist design - they no longer are. I have NO worries about them attacking Pearl again. They learned a very BIG lesson. Since then, they have allowed the US to protect them and have benign for decades. They prefer it that way. But now, the chia-pet in NK is sending missles over their heads and developing nukes.

I say, spend their own money, sell them the weapons, keep backing them, but let them deal with Il. Let Japan kick the shit out of NK without us losing anymore of our best. Unfortunately, the first to go would be Seoul and the 20 thousand American troops stationed there.

I say give Japan all the munitions to kill Kim Jong Il.!!! Maybe even nuke that bastard! What? We should wait until he can slip some nukes to his terrorist buddies?

Of course, this is all rhetoric. THE ONE won't do a damn thing to protect our own citizens against anything. The Nam Kang (sp) is going to slip into the Burma port with its suspected illicit cargo and the USS McCain won't be allowed to do a damn thing about it.

Hope you're as old as I am, because I personally don't want to see a USA city go 1,000,000 degrees. But it's going to happen...sooner or later. I only hope that the self-serving politicians get it first.

[AmericanInTokyo]

They have already re-militarized.

They will militarize even more.

If that answers your question.

They will find little opposition nowadays.

[IamConservative]

Let’s surface a boomer in front of this ship and one off the coast of NK and give the Chia Pet a look at what real nuclear power looks like. Maybe he’s dumb enough to shoot first.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Oh well. Ol' Fishlips (장성택) is really running the show up there now these days. The old buzzard Chia Pet is just being propped up there a few months or weeks short of "Weekend at Bernies".

And then they have the gd audacity (the Audacity of Hope!!??) to turn over the nuclear triggers, a million-man army, the Secret Police and Border Guards, and 12,000 artillery tubes to some fat, 26-year old kid, elevated to General in the snap of a dictator's finger.

[wafflehouse]

[maggief]

btt

[rjp2005]

Special delivery for the US:

NK - to Burma - to Yemen - to Eritrea - to New York!

STOP THE SHIP

[2harddrive]

The following joke was posted on Yahoo yesterday:
Q: Why is Obama going to let the North Korean missile hit Hawaii? A: Because then he can say that THEY destroyed his Birth Certificate! LOL.

Upon posting, comments were made that this was a racist effing joke, that the poster was a racist mother-effer, and that he should get the eff off Yahoo.

I saw no racial component to the joke at all, and it was WAY funnier than David Letterman’s about Sarah Palin’s daughter. What do YOU all think?

[sam_paine]

(Just keep a 1000 mi exclusion zone for Jap carriers around Pearl)

I've heard of fighting the last war...but not five or six wars ago! =)

Surprise carrier attacks were the ICBM tech of the day.

Now a first strike is nuclear.

As we should've been alarmed at the buildup of Japanese carriers, so should we be worried about NK and Iranian missiles+nukes.

Pearl harbor is going to happen again, but the sleeping giant may not awake this time.

[fso301]

Sworn to suicide under direct orders from Kim Jong il. If the crew of this craft is shuttling WMD or missile parts, you can be sure they are hardline KPA members, under the same operational training and oath. When cornered, they will give up a fight. If it appears their story will become exposed they will go into suicide mode,

Persons believing the present to be all there is tend to show some reluctance concerning matters of suicide. Perhaps you can help me out a little here because for some time I have wondered if any religious beliefs might explain some of what transpires in North Korea?

[sam_paine]

Let’s surface a boomer in front of this ship and one off the coast of NK and give the Chia Pet a look at what real nuclear power looks like.

Yes! Let's use a $2 Billion dollar strategic asset as a road hump that doesn't even have a deck gun when a destroyer is already there not scaring them!

[aruanan]

Persons believing the present to be all there is tend to show some reluctance concerning matters of suicide.

Though not all of the victims willingly submitted, the Jim Jones mass revolutionary suicide (and these folks believed the present was all there was) demonstrates otherwise. Those who believe the present is all there is are more likely to justify any behavior in much more immediate terms, especially when they've immanentized the eschaton into political system of beliefs.

The merely self-centered, whether atheist or theist, are another matter.

[fso301]

Though not all of the victims willingly submitted, the Jim Jones mass revolutionary suicide (and these folks believed the present was all there was) demonstrates otherwise. Those who believe the present is all there is are more likely to justify any behavior in much more immediate terms, especially when they've immanentized the eschaton into political system of beliefs.

The Jim Jones group was still some sort of communistic religious cult.

[Polarik]

I take as an act of war, any threat to “wipe the US off the map.” The only question is when and how do we respond.

[Soothesayer]

I think Yahoo answers has the highest percentage of internet morons on all the web. More so than even Youtube. Every spoiled, brain-dead, perpetual adolescent at one point makes a Hajj to that site.

[Soothesayer]

They believe that the spirit of dear leader Kim il Sung ascended into heaven as a flight of cranes only to return to a sacred sarcophagus after hearing the lamentations of North Koreans.

It’s hard to determine the true beliefs of the propaganda ministry but this is the official bull****. They are most likely atheists just like any good communist.

[b4its2late]

Obama doesn’t care. Foreign policy is meaningless to him. He’s focused on destroying our country first.

[fso301]

They believe that the spirit of dear leader Kim il Sung ascended into heaven as a flight of cranes only to return to a sacred sarcophagus after hearing the lamentations of North Koreans.

It’s hard to determine the true beliefs of the propaganda ministry but this is the official bull****. They are most likely atheists just like any good communist.

Believing that a former leaders spirit was carried to heaven by a flock of cranes is not secular atheism. It's a religious belief.

[IamConservative]

Yes! Let's use a $2 Billion dollar strategic asset as a road hump that doesn't even have a deck gun when a destroyer is already there not scaring them!

Ballistic Missile Submarines have 4 torpedo tubes and carry the Mark 48 Torpedo. They are more than capable of sinking a merchant ship with a conventional weapon.

[JimSEA]

Oh goody!! With O's help and Kim Jong Il’s weapons I might be living in Burma soon. The Generals have said that the want Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and other Northern Thai provinces back. They had ruled them for a two hundred year period ending about the time of America's Revolutionary War. I'm sure this will make everyone happy, degrading their standard of living and removing all freedoms.

[null and void]

If a WMD
you must choose
give him one
he’s apt
to use
Burma Slave

[PapaBear3625]

If the crew of this craft is shuttling WMD or missile parts, you can be sure they are hardline KPA members, under the same operational training and oath. When cornered, they will give up a fight. If it appears their story will become exposed they will go into suicide mode, and I would project, destroy the evidence (attempt to).

I'm going to guess that the incentive is that, if they are captured alive, then their entire extended family back in NK will be killed.

[mojito]

Well, what do ya know, another China ally is involved in proliferating nuclear weapons.

Why do all the pundits say that China is opposed to this sort of proliferation, when the evidence of their own eyes says different?

[sam_paine]

They are more than capable of sinking a merchant ship with a conventional weapon.

And brandishing a 357 magnum will frighten a fly?