Divinus Arma
05-22-2006, 21:45
U.S. intelligence loses track of N. Korea nukes
The U.S. intelligence community has conceded that it has lost count over North Korea's nuclear program.
Government sources said the intelligence community has concluded that Pyongyang has produced at least a dozen nuclear weapons. But the sources said the nuclear facilities are so far underground that they can't even venture a credible estimate of the production rate.
"Everybody's talking about Iran," a source close to the intelligence community said. "Iran is the future threat. North Korea is today's threat and we have no idea how big that threat really is."
North Korea's nuclear weapons program has led to Pyongyang’s refusal to return to six-party talks, the sources said. The program has also convinced South Korea to propose economic aid to Pyongyang. A summit between the two Koreas has been scheduled for June.
The sources said the North Korean nuclear weapons program could become a major factor in determining when Iran reaches similar capability. They said Pyongyang, as it has done with missiles, could quickly supply components and technology to ensure Iranian nuclear capability.
"Even if we bomb Iran, the North Koreans could quickly revive the nuclear weapons program," the source said. "As it stands now, we have no plan to stop North Korea."
Brief Article (http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/NKorea.htm)
Maybe all the Iran talk is just to distract us from the failure to stop North Korea. If anybody wants to sell a nuke, it's gonna be this jackball.
The U.S. intelligence community has conceded that it has lost count over North Korea's nuclear program.
Government sources said the intelligence community has concluded that Pyongyang has produced at least a dozen nuclear weapons. But the sources said the nuclear facilities are so far underground that they can't even venture a credible estimate of the production rate.
"Everybody's talking about Iran," a source close to the intelligence community said. "Iran is the future threat. North Korea is today's threat and we have no idea how big that threat really is."
North Korea's nuclear weapons program has led to Pyongyang’s refusal to return to six-party talks, the sources said. The program has also convinced South Korea to propose economic aid to Pyongyang. A summit between the two Koreas has been scheduled for June.
The sources said the North Korean nuclear weapons program could become a major factor in determining when Iran reaches similar capability. They said Pyongyang, as it has done with missiles, could quickly supply components and technology to ensure Iranian nuclear capability.
"Even if we bomb Iran, the North Koreans could quickly revive the nuclear weapons program," the source said. "As it stands now, we have no plan to stop North Korea."
Brief Article (http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/NKorea.htm)
Maybe all the Iran talk is just to distract us from the failure to stop North Korea. If anybody wants to sell a nuke, it's gonna be this jackball.