NBC: North Korean nuclear test could happen as early as Tuesday night

MSNBC ^

[Perdogg]

North Korea could carry out an underground test of a nuclear weapon as early as Tuesday night as the North's reclusive leadership dramatically tries to up the stakes with the U.S. and the West, U.S. officials told NBC News.

U.S. officials say North Korea may already have an arsenal between 12 and a "few dozen" far more advanced weapons, many more than generally believed.

[GregB]

I miss John Candy.

[mkjessup]

You seriously believe the Japanese gave nukes to the Norks?

In three words: NO EFFIN WAY!

Here is why:

First of all, the Japanese government would have to totally take leave of their senses to provide such technology to a rogue state, it would be like the U.S. Government to one day wake up and decide that selling some small tactical nukes to Fidel Castro wasn't a big deal. It ain't happenin'.

Second, the North Koreans would absolutely REFUSE to accept such technology from Japan, based on the historic and long standing antipathy between Tokyo and the Korean people. For those just tuning in, among Japan's many war crimes of World War II, are the crimes committed against Korea, and there is no way the Koreans are going to forget THAT.

Third, IF such a transfer of technology had taken place, you can be sure that the United States would have known about it at some point in the past and would have taken the 'appropriate steps' which would NOT have been pretty.

Uh uh, that dog definitely won't hunt.

[muawiyah]

Depends on your time frame. Back during WWII the Japanese government had a bit of a nuclear development program going on. They had facilities in Korea.

Due to a number of koinkydinks they ended up losing all but a couple of the people involved in their program.

Would modern Japanese use the NORKS to build nukes for them? I really don't know ~ do you know for sure?

[Stevenc131]

A severe scolding from Obama, and the UN will appoint a “Special Rapporteur” to assess the situation and issue a strongly worded report a year or two down the road.

[muawiyah]

BTW, the Japanese committed their crimes against the Koreans back before WWI even!~ From that point on they were more in the business of turning Koreans into Japanese ~ they used Koreans almost exclusively as their guards over POWS and other foreign nationals.

[mkjessup]

I got a C-note that says there is NO Japanese collaboration, assistance, or cooperative effort of any kind with Pyongyang in the area of developing any sort of nuclear weapons technology.

And I’ll give two to one odds to anybody looking for some action.

[Lurker]

I know for sure. If the Japanese decided to build nukes today they’d have the first operational model delivered on Monday. The Hello Kitty version would be on the shelf the following Friday.

Japan is in possession of more plutonium than any nation on Earth. The only thing stopping them from building nukes is their politicians. If that damn breaks Japan will be the most nuclear armed nation on the planet.

And if they decided to use them they’d happily reduce the Norks to ashes over the weekend.

[muawiyah]

PRIOR to the end of WWII there was a whole lotta' Japanese collaboration, assistance, cooperative and slave camp relationships with people in Korea.

What makes you think the Japanese gathered up all their peeps and their special equipment to return to Japan?

Are there people in Japan who do not to this day agree with the outcome of WWII? Do they believe in irredentism?

[Carl LaFong]

I miss Billy Sol Hurok as well.

[Newbomb Turk]

Or could be as late as a year from tuesday too...what reporting.

Hoping for a workplace accident like their no dong two rocket launch !

[muawiyah]

More likely the Japanese would come up with the "MOTHER TONGUE" deal again and convert them to the Japanese point of view.

Recall that japan had earlier industrialized Manchuria and North Korea specifically for the purpose of keeping the HOME ISLANDS pristine and free of industrial grime and grit.

As they've done so many times in the past the Japanese can flip the switch from scholars and merchants to warriors and conquerers. You have been privileged to live during one of their scholarly manifestations.

[Diogenesis]

[mkjessup]

...If the Japanese decided to build nukes today they’d have the first operational model delivered on Monday. The Hello Kitty version would be on the shelf the following Friday.

Bet the rent on that:

[QT3.14]

-- I hear a severe scolding coming from the UN and Obama soon. I hope the new guy is braced for it

From ZerObama:

Kim this is your final warning!

We have stockpiled mountains of harsh words.

The State Department flacks are poised to invade the chambers
of the UN at a moment’s notice and beg for a weak sanction.

Our forces of mild rebuke are at a hair trigger status.

We could have a whole flotilla of ships steaming at full throttle
to your ports to deliver proper rewards for bad behavior".

Brandishing a pen) “Don’t make me use this!!!”

[mkjessup]

Ok, just for you my FRiend, I will offer FOUR-to-1 odds on my original wager in my post #26.

[muawiyah]

Not sure what you were talking about.

You no doubt know that japan only recently agreed to give Korean citizens living there Japanese citizenship ~ there are several hundred thousand of them ~ mostly with North Korean ties.

But the equipment I was referring to was simply left behind in storage in what became North Korea. That's 67 years ago.

[mkjessup]

I just got your FReepmail, and you have one in return! :)

[arderkrag]

Sources say they expect the weapons to test as well as the North Korean rocket.

[Lurker]

Love your homepage.

[GeronL]

After the failed missile launch this is an attempt at compensation