The World is a little more dangerest today

[larrymeyer]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090525/...korea_north_11

N.Korea conducts second nuclear test, U.N. to meet

Reuters – North Korea's military personnel parade with a portrait of North Korea's late leader Kim Il-sung …


SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea conducted a second nuclear test on Monday that was far more powerful than its first one, triggering an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on the hermit state's defiant act, but financial markets wobbled only briefly on the news.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Pyongyang's attempts at developing nuclear weapons was a threat to international peace and security, while the North's neighbor and long-time benefactor, China, said it was "resolutely opposed" to the test.

Russia, which also called the test a threat to regional security, said the blast was about equal in power to the U.S. atom bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki in World War Two.

Ratcheting up tensions further, North Korea test-fired three short-range missiles just hours later, Yonhap news agency said.

Officials in Washington and Beijing said North Korea had warned their governments of the test about an hour before detonation but nearby Japan said it was not given advance notice.

Germany, Britain and France were among the nations condemning the test while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply worried."

Monday's blast was up to 20 times more powerful than the North's first nuclear test about 2 1/2 years ago, underscoring the advances in its nuclear program despite multilateral talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions.

The latest test will confound the international community, which has for years tried a mixture of huge aid pledges and tough economic sanctions to persuade the impoverished North to give up efforts to build a nuclear arsenal.

It is also bound to raise concerns about proliferation, a major worry of the United States which has in the past accused Pyongyang of trying to sell its nuclear know-how to states such as Syria.

NORTH KOREAN LEVERAGE

Analysts said the test also will serve to raise North Korea's leverage in any negotiations with the United States.

It comes as speculation has mounted that leader Kim Jong-il, his health uncertain after reports of a stroke last year, wants to strengthen an already iron grip on power so he can better secure the succession for one of his three sons.

The nuclear test dealt another blow to South Korean markets, already unsettled by fears of domestic unrest after former President Roh Moo-hyun, who had been questioned over his links to a corruption scandal, jumped to his death during the weekend.

South Korea's main stock market index fell more than 6 percent at one stage on worries by some that investors would flee.

But the decline was short-lived and analysts said investors were used to the North's repeated saber-rattling, even as it became more aggressive, and would likely panic only if there was military conflict on a peninsula where 2 million troops face each other across one of the world's most heavily armed borders.

North Korea already is so isolated there is little left with which to punish an autocratic government that has long been willing to take dealings with the outside world to the brink.

At home, its leaders repeatedly stress the threat from a hostile United States to justify heavy spending on the military that keeps them in power but which has meant deepening poverty, at times famine, for most of the rest of its 23 million people.

The official KCNA news agency said the North had "successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defense in every way."

The country's first nuclear test, in October 2006, was considered to have been relatively weak, about 1 kiloton, suggesting design problems.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET

China Monday echoed concerns by other permanent members of the Security Council, which was due to go into an emergency session later Monday.

"The Chinese side vehemently demands North Korea abides by its denuclearization promises, stop any actions which may worsen the situation and return to the six-party talks process," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website (www.mfa.gov.cn).

"The Chinese government calls on all sides to calmly and appropriately deal (with the situation)."

Analysts said, however, Beijing was unlikely to back stronger sanctions as part of a new U.N. Security Council resolution.

Obama said it was "a matter of grave concern to all nations" and warranted action by the international community.

North Korea had for weeks threatened to conduct the test in response to tighter international sanctions following its April launch of a rocket, widely seen as a disguised long-range missile that violated U.N. resolutions.

Following the tightened sanctions, Pyongyang also said it would no longer be a party to six-country talks on giving up its nuclear weapons program.

"North Korea's strategic objective hasn't changed. That objective is to win the attention of the Obama administration, to push the North Korea issue up the agenda," said Xu Guangyu, a researcher at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.

[Guns4Fun]

It looks like Obama's apologizing tour worked out great.

N. Korea also launched a missile today / yesterday with a the ability to carry a nuclear warhead.

Iran continues to pursue nukes.

Israel practices air maneuvers.

The Taliban is trying to get access to Pakistan nukes.

Iran dispatched 6 "warships".

Mexico is killing and kidnapping our citizens.

Obama waits for the UN to do something.

Seems like everything is going just fine. No need to worry.

Here's the Iran warship story

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/int...52447000&ty=ti

Iran says warships sent to Gulf of Aden

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has sent six warships to international waters, including the Gulf of Aden, to show its ability to confront any foreign threats, its naval commander said on Monday.
SNIP

[Pector55]

"Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of the world's traded oil is shipped, if it were attacked over its nuclear programme."

1 U.S. sub could fix all that. Iranian missles and nukes are one thing but an Iranian Navy is a joke.

[Pector55]

"Obama said it was "a matter of grave concern to all nations" and warranted action by the international community. I will promptly vote "present" to all U.N. actions against N. Korea, Iran, and any other bad guys."

***Updated***

[Brick]

So now is the time for the "world" to push China into forcing NK into compliance with its' nuclear agreements. China is the only one that can do it. The U. S. can't because, whatever, we propose through the U.N. Security Council will be vetoed by China. Kim Jong-Il is eventually going to have to be called on his continued blackmail schemes. And that is all they are is blackmail.

[TXDMERC73]

Obama is getting too soft with foreign affairs, he should let Hitlary make the decisions. we should "walk with a big stick" and show the world we are taking matter serious. Look at the Hezbollah and the Taliban -they dont seem to be soft when it comes to international decisions...Obama better do something before its too late,once they have everything in motion, it will be impossible to stop it.

[Mohaa Player]

We have nothing to worry about now that we have Obama, it's all about change.Sell your guns and let Obama guide you to the light.

[Pector55]

So now is the time for the "world" to push China into forcing NK into compliance with its' nuclear agreements. China is the only one that can do it. The U. S. can't because, whatever, we propose through the U.N. Security Council will be vetoed by China. Kim Jong-Il is eventually going to have to be called on his continued blackmail schemes. And that is all they are is blackmail.

If I was in control of North Korea, I would have nukes too. Think about it.. most of us don't trust the U.S. Government, why should they? Hell, if I had the ultimate trump card in my backyard, I would tell the government to GFY and their oppressive taxes and my nukes would assure that they had to consider the consequences of using force to make me "obey."

I'm not saying I like it but I do understand their position.

[ScaredOnce]

If I was in control of North Korea, I would have nukes too. Think about it.. most of us don't trust the U.S. Government, why should they? Hell, if I had the ultimate trump card in my backyard, I would tell the government to GFY and their oppressive taxes and my nukes would assure that they had to consider the consequences of using force to make me "obey."

I'm not saying I like it but I do understand their position.

Very interesting point. This has been a good discussion and I think it gained some value from your "devil's advocate" point of view.

I suppose in their eyes it makes the ultimate sense to push for things that "test the waters" all the while degrading foreign resolve to stop them. They've certainly succeeded in pushing the limits of status-quo to loosen their bounds.

Not that I like it either... :/

[mjfletcher]

If I was in control of North Korea, I would have nukes too. Think about it.. most of us don't trust the U.S. Government, why should they? Hell, if I had the ultimate trump card in my backyard, I would tell the government to GFY and their oppressive taxes and my nukes would assure that they had to consider the consequences of using force to make me "obey."

I'm not saying I like it but I do understand their position.

I do believe this is the most rep worthy devils advocate post I've ever seen. I've thought the same thing about this situation (and others) myself. We (as in the United States), through words, actions, or a combination of them state that we are the enemy of Nation X, then when they attempt to develop weapons that would level the playing field in any conflict between us we cry foul, act indignant, and "stomp our widdle feetsies." Its truly sad that "the most powerful nation in the world" throws temper tantrums like that.

I don't like the situation, but I would be a hypocrite if I condemned them for taking actions they felt necessary to ensure their ability to defend themself against a nation who has declared itself their enemy while I'm walking around with a firearm to ensure my ability to defend myself against an, as yet, hypothetical threat.