[release]SEOUL--North Korea could carry out a third atomic test next year to strengthen the credentials of its young leader-in-waiting Kim Jong-un, a research report from a South Korean foreign ministry institute said on Friday.
The regular report was published a day after Pyongyang vowed a nuclear "sacred war" after the South vowed to be "merciless" if attacked, and held a major military drill near the border.
The North, which carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, has yet to show it has a deliverable weapon as part of its plutonium arms program, but a third test would raise tensions further on the divided peninsula and rattle global markets.
Nuclear experts have also said they expect a third test soon, while South Korean media reported earlier this month that the North was digging a tunnel in preparation.
"There is a possibility of North Korea carrying out its third nuclear test to seek improvement in its nuclear weapons production capability, keep the military tension high and promote Kim Jong-un's status as the next leader," the report said, referring to sickly Kim Jong-il's youngest son.
"Tension between the two Koreas will remain high with chances of additional North Korean attacks on the South staying high. Chances of a summit meeting between leaders of the two sides look slim," the institute said, according to a summary of the report.
The analysis for 2011 was written by the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, run by the Foreign Ministry.
Hostilities are at their most intense since the Korean War in the early 1950s, after a deadly naval clash in March and the North's attack on a South Korean island last month.
"Relations between the two Koreas are at their worst point in more than a decade, with much of the progress of recent years undone," International Crisis Group analyst Daniel Pinkston said.
"In the South, impatience with Pyongyang is growing, and there are demands from the right in Seoul for more robust terms of military engagement in the event of future clashes."
Still, the risk of all-out war is low, and the North's threats of destruction are seen as largely rhetorical.
Pyongyang's tactic of boasting about nuclear advances is a ploy aimed at restarting talks between itself, the South, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, from which it hopes to wring concessions, analysts say.
"Some form of meeting between six-party members could be held during 2011 to discuss North Korea's uranium enrichment, but chances are very low for any meaningful progress being achieved," the Foreign Ministry institute said.
China, the North's only major ally and vital financial backer, sees the forum as the best place to begin dialogue, but Seoul, Washington and Tokyo say they first need proof that Pyongyang is committed to dismantling its nuclear work.
"It is about time that China loses its patience," Seoul's Joongang Daily said in a commentary.
"The time has come for Seoul to strategically manipulate the North Korea-China alliance to encourage estrangement." [/release]
Source: [url=http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012240394.html]Asahi[/url]
Well they better film it this time.
And show it to the rest of the world. Otherwise nobody will belive it.
"nuclear launch detected"
UN ain't going to like this one
I honestly read "to boost hair" and was confused for a second
[QUOTE=Tetracycline;26956881]UN ain't going to like this one[/QUOTE]
They'll just "condemn" it and do nothing else.
Yep, sanctions everywhere
I don't even have enough effort to give half a shit, unless they actually DO something then they are no different than a small child begging for attention.
Best Korea is an attention whore.
Hey Kim, I hear if you stand in the middle of a nuclear explosion you will become immortal!
[QUOTE=Tetracycline;26956909]Yep, sanctions everywhere[/QUOTE]
That's the problem, even if the UN would actually do something it wouldn't matter unless it was military because North Korea is so isolated from the rest of the world. What are they going to do? Put sanctions on the trade they don't do with the rest of the world?
If Kim Jong-il stands on top of the metal cover for the bomb tunnel, he'll probably get into space unlike his failed satellites.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plumbbob#The_first_nuclear-propelled_manmade_object_in_space.3F[/url]
Boost heir and poison the air
:foxnews:[b]North Korea nuclear test causes meltdown millions sick of radiation poisoning, South Korea blamed for sabotage[/B]:foxnews:
[QUOTE=Tudd;26957968]:foxnews:[b]North Korea nuclear test causes meltdown millions sick of radiation poisoning, South Korea blamed for sabotage[/B]:foxnews:[/QUOTE]
using the fox emote to do a headline contrary to fox's stereotype, nice job
[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;26958148]using the fox emote to do a headline contrary to fox's stereotype, nice job[/QUOTE]
It's ironic on so many levels.
They should stop the atomic shit all together. And how hard can it be NOT nuking the crap out of your neighbors?
Its starting to really piss me off that nobody can live in peace on this earth but always must warmonger for the hell of it.
i have a feeling its gonna be a huge failure to the point they are going to have to photoshop the results. Like what Iran did with it's missile launches a long time ago.
But, in North Korea's case, they will use MS paint
They seem to be the only ones who don't know that soviet missiles actually don't work.
[QUOTE=Cpn Crunch21;26958535]i have a feeling its gonna be a huge failure to the point they are going to have to photoshop the results. Like what Iran did with it's missile launches a long time ago.
But, in North Korea's case, they will use MS paint[/QUOTE]
[img]http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b136/Yawmwen/BestKorea.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=yawmwen;26959778][img_thumb]http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b136/Yawmwen/BestKorea.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE]
Shit, what will we do
[QUOTE=Tosadalis;26960513]Shit, what will we do[/QUOTE]
Bow down to dear leader? It [i]is[/i] inevitable, after all.
[QUOTE=Tetracycline;26956881]UN ain't going to like this one[/QUOTE]
The UN will send a !!Really!! angry letter to them.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;26961032]Bow down to dear leader? It [i]is[/i] inevitable, after all.[/QUOTE]
On it
Am I the only one that finds this "North Korea = Best Korea" joke fucking annoying at this point.
Seriously, guys. You've killed the joke
[QUOTE=halflambada;26961460]Am I the only one that finds this "North Korea = Best Korea" joke fucking annoying at this point.
Seriously, guys. You've killed the joke[/QUOTE]
I hate it too
[QUOTE=halflambada;26961460]Am I the only one that finds this "North Korea = Best Korea" joke fucking annoying at this point.
Seriously, guys. You've killed the joke[/QUOTE]
It's not a joke
[QUOTE=Orkel;26956891]They'll just "condemn" it and do nothing else.[/QUOTE]
Er, and what would "nothing else" normally include?
[QUOTE=Orkel;26956891]They'll just "condemn" it and do nothing else.[/QUOTE]
Still, I don't think North Korea can remain like this forever. There will be some point in the future that is falls apart and I hope to god it doesn't involve war.
[QUOTE=booster;26956771]Well they better film it this time.
And show it to the rest of the world. Otherwise nobody will belive it.[/QUOTE]
You do know that atomic bombs create measurable earthquakes and super-bright flashes detectable from space, right? It's not like they have to video tape it to prove it.
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;26965308]Er, and what would "nothing else" normally include?[/QUOTE]
Nothing else as in nothing else will be done. NK WE SO MAD GRRRR :argh:, some more sanctions, and nothing else
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