N. Korea may produce 14 to 18 nuke warheads by 2019 if talks fail

Yonhap News ^ | 2/16/2010 | Hwang Doo-hyong

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

North Korea may be able to produce up to 14 to 18 nuclear warheads by 2019 if the multilateral talks for its denuclearization fail, a scholar said Tuesday.

"If North Korea is able to refurbish its fuel fabrication plant, that production rate could continue indefinitely with its arsenal reaching 14-18 weapons by 2019," said Joel Wit, a visiting fellow at the U.S. Korea Institute at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, in a report.

Wit was discussing the North's nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at its Yongbyon nuclear facilities being reactivated after it declared a boycott of the six-party talks early last year over U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests.

He said that North Korea's "nuclear stockpile is believed to consist of sufficient plutonium to build 4-8 weapons."

"Using existing stocks of fresh fuel, North Korea could produce a bomb's worth of plutonium each year from 2011-2013," he said in the report titled "Four Scenarios for a nuclear North Korea."

North Korea, which conducted its second nuclear test, after one in 2006, in May last year, is widely believed to possess several nuclear warheads, with some analysts saying it has already developed the technology to mount the warheads on long-range missiles.

The North's second nuclear test is widely seen as having demonstrated its nuclear capability unlike the previous one, which is seen as a partial failure.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[slumber1]

And if talks succeed they’ll produce 50 - 100

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I do not think that the are not going to produce anything. The entire country is going to collapse. When it does OPLAN 5029 better be implemented quickly and secure those nukes.

[pallis]

With Obamao in the White House, the only thing we can be assured of is that North Korea will get whatever they want.

[UCANSEE2]

I do not think that the are not going to produce anything. The entire country is going to collapse.

I think you meant "I do not think that they are going to produce anything."

Regardless to that, I have a question.

What is to prevent NK from selling a bunch of nuke warheads to Iran to help keep their economy from collapsing?

[Lurker]

What is to prevent NK from selling a bunch of nuke warheads to Iran to help keep their economy from collapsing?

Not a damned thing.

[RC one]

what a coincidence, I was just talking about nuking a North Korea.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

[backhoe]

 

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

LOL

[backhoe]

[cavador]

Hey,China,want some prime real estate, and some free nukes? You just have to annexe Nth Korea! (just like Hitler did with the Sudentland in Chechozlavakia in the late 1930's)
At least the nukes will be in safekeeping then,because china knows better than to threaten the world like that runt,Kim ("I'm so wonerry")Jong. The U.S. will find it hard to invade PKK Territory because china is like their big daddy.So it's better for china to take the nukes.(Perhaps obbumma can disarm the PKK if he charms the chinks into action with some sweet talk.)