North Korea orders UN inspectors out

[PowerWizard]

North Korea has ended co-operation with UN nuclear inspectors and ordered them to leave the country, the International Atomic Energy Agency says.

It told the IAEA to remove seals and equipment from the Yongbyon reactor and said that it would reactivate all its nuclear facilities, the watchdog said.

The move comes after the communist nation said it was pulling out of talks on ending its nuclear programme.

North Korea is angry about a UN statement condemning its rocket launch.


Pyongyang says it was putting a satellite in orbit, but other nations believe it was testing missile technology.

'No access'

In a statement, the UN watchdog said North Korea had served notice that it would cease co-operation immediately.

"It [the North] has requested the removal of all containment and surveillance equipment, following which, IAEA inspectors will no longer be provided access to the facility," the statement said.

"The inspectors have also been asked to leave... [North Korea] at the earliest possible time."

IAEA inspectors went to North Korea following the landmark February 2007 deal, under which it agreed to end its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and political incentives.

But earlier on Tuesday North Korea announced it was pulling out of six-party talks on the deal, after the UN Security Council issued a statement saying its 5 April rocket launch contravened a UN resolution.

"We will never again take part in such talks and will not be bound by any agreement reached at the talks," a foreign ministry statement said.

The US called Pyongyang's decision to withdraw a "serious step" in the wrong direction.

"We call on North Korea to cease its provocative threats... and to honour its international commitments", a White House spokesman said.

China and Russia, meanwhile, have urged North Korea to reconsider its decision, with Beijing calling for "calm and restraint".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7999024.stm

Well, what do you think? In the ligh of recent events could this act be considered as a casus belli? Will a Security Council resolution give a mandate for intervention? Who will act first? USA, Russia or China?

[Whacker]

I'm not so much worried/concerned about the US, as I am the silent 900 lb gorilla in the corner... Japan. They have a relatively large, well funded and trained military. Not to mention that they are the only nation to have ever been on the receiving end of a nuclear attack (twice). AND there are a number of US bases in Japan. It doesn't look like N. Korea's craptacular SCUDs will be able to make it anywhere close to the US with any kind of accuracy, but they do have the ability to hit targets across Eastern Asia.

My other guess will be that China would probably step in before a conflict escalated too far. They're letting N. Korea enough chain so they can run around and bark, poop on the neighbor's yard and make a general nuisance, but they'd reel it in before the US/UN would make another puppet state out of it.

[PowerWizard]

I'm not so much worried/concerned about the US, as I am the silent 900 lb gorilla in the corner... Japan. They have a relatively large, well funded and trained military. Not to mention that they are the only nation to have ever been on the receiving end of a nuclear attack (twice). AND there are a number of US bases in Japan. It doesn't look like N. Korea's craptacular SCUDs will be able to make it anywhere close to the US with any kind of accuracy, but they do have the ability to hit targets across Eastern Asia.

My other guess will be that China would probably step in before a conflict escalated too far. They're letting N. Korea enough chain so they can run around and bark, poop on the neighbor's yard and make a general nuisance, but they'd reel it in before the US/UN would make another puppet state out of it.

You forget the fact, that Japan has only self-defense forces and starting a war would require chaging the Japanese constitution, which would require U.S. approval.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

North Korea will not cease their efforts until:

a) they successfully construct at least 2 nuclear warheads and place them upon reasonably reliable intermediate missile platforms [they're on track with both, but have completed neither, project].

OR

b) the current government collapses entirely from internal weakness/dissent/famine.


Their goal is entry into the nuclear club, with all of the rights and privileges therunto apertaining(notably the ability to tell your neighbors to treat you with respect, that you can't be dictated to, and that if you are attacked you have the ability to kill millions of their citizens).

What minor power would NOT want this tool at their disposal if they have the moxie to acquire it? The Great Powers DO treat nuclear countries with more respect and less exploitation/arrogance.

They'll game it, close for a time to get concessions, pick up technologies and assistance by "stopping," and lather/rinse/repeat as needed but the long term goal of acquiring nuclear weapons has not changed. From their perspective, it should not change.


The UN will impose sanctions, condemn the effort, and try bribery in the form of food and energy resources. These efforts will slow but not change the basic program NK is pursuing.

The UN will not authorize the use of force to break the Korean regime. They are highly unlikely to authorize the use of force to destroy NK nuclear facilities. There is a small possibility that they would consider, with the permission of SK, sending in forces to replace those currently stationed there by the US (not that the US has any plans to withdraw) if that is deemed to be less provacative.

The USA will react first, but will do the least. China will act last, with the most influence, but with the smallest goals in terms of altering NK's behavior/stance.

Our modern world does not require "cause for war" as no wars are declared -- there are only "conflicts."

[Hooahguy]

*flashback to March 2003*

[Fragony]

Well let's just cut all aid for the time being, someone has to have the strength to press the red button after all. Silly commies.

[KukriKhan]

Army and Marines are kinda tied up at the mo'. But Navy & Air Farce aren't too busy.

Bluster = Diplomacy for 3 days (sez I).

Then bluster = blunderbuss. With appropriate warnings ahead of time, of course.

[Xiahou]

I don't think nuclear weapons is the goal of the DPRK so much as it is the means. The regime cannot survive on its own, it uses tools like this to blackmail the rest of the international community into giving it aid. Then, the DPRK breaks its agreements and goes fishing for more aid and a better deal. And we play our part and give it to them- rewarding them for repeatedly breaking their agreements.

Of course, the other side benefit of it's weapons programs is the export business, which I also imagine is quite lucrative.