Posted on 06/27/2018 6:58:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
At this point, I'm not too worried about them having a power generation reactor if it's known about and regularly inspected, just about their having the ability to enrich uranium for use in a weapon.
I'm sure the people who are dead set against making any deal with NK (and at one time Bolton was one of them, now?) would make an issue out of anyone in NK having radium dial watch so I don't know if this is a big deal or not.
They will be looking for the slightest sign that Kim isnt cooperating and splash it all over the front pages.
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Trump has made a monumental effort to get Kim to dismantle his nukes. He had to go this route to show the world that he was willing try anything to avoid a conflict that could spiral out of control and devastate North and South Korea, at a minimum. The deal however is still a big political gamble for him.
The risk is that Kim’s gambit (if that’s what it is) could be for him to cooperate for awhile, showing signs of goodwill and an apparent effort to denuclearize. However, this could all be a ruse. If Trump was forced into a position of having to “dissuade” Kim from further nuclear activities, Kim can quickly claim that he has made significant concessions that demonstrate his “good faith”. This would put Trump in a difficult position vis-a-vis the exercise of a military option.
Not saying it would work for Kim but that might be a calculation and risk he is willing to take.
Consider the source of the story!
A reactor also produces plutonium. U238+n -> U239 ->Np239+e- ->Pu239 + e-. Pu239 is a fissile and requires less to make a critical mass.
looks like they are upgrading the cooling system....probably a good thing, and its common to upgrade and replace systems to avoid catastrophes.
The images are commercial
Knirps for moisture.
Wall Street Journal published this too, I think they were first. FWIW.
It will be interesting to see where it goes next.
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