North Korea Vows Nuclear Test 'Aimed' at US (want to see our new HEU bomb?)

VOA News ^ | January 24, 2013 | Steve Herman

[AdmSmith]

Yes, I agree with you that that was the best estimate. But, now it seems that the group around Jiang Zemin has lost influence, so Japan and China will be on speaking terms again ( http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/25/us-china-japan-idUSBRE90O05T20130125 ) and China is critical of NK:

An editorial published Friday in the English-language edition of the state-run Chinese newspaper Global Times struck a displeased tone over Pyongyang’s comments a day earlier. “China’s role and position are clear when discussing North Korea issue in the U.N. Security Council,” the editorial said. “If North Korea engages in further nuclear tests, China will not hesitate to reduce its assistance to North Korea.”
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/25/world/asia/north-korea-threat-south

[TigerLikesRooster]

The successful denotation of nuke is the goal the regime has been pursuing for decades. It poured all its resource at the expense of starving millions. They believe their power can only last with its possession of nuclear arms. So they will go ahead. If China throws out their hedging moves and impose all-out sanction on N. Korea, maybe China can hold it off for a while. However, China should make it clear that it could go all the way if NK regime does not bend.

[JoeProBono]