N. Korea Preparing For Another Nuke Test?

U.S. Intelligence Suggests North Koreans Might Test Again

(CBS/AP)  No sooner had an analysis of air samples taken by an Air Force plane over the Sea of Japan confirmed that the North Koreans had indeed set off a nuclear device, than U.S. intelligence picked up signs of activity at an underground test site, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin, raising the possibility that the North Koreans might test again.

"We're watching it, obviously, and discussing it with other parties, as well," said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "I think it goes to say that it would further deepen the isolation of North Korea and I hope they would not take such a provocative act."

South Korea is aware of signs related to possible preparations for an additional North Korea nuclear test, Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed government officials. One official said various intelligence reports were coming in about a possible test, but that it was unclear how reliable they were.

Meanwhile, National Intelligence Director John Negroponte's office confirmed that North Korea conducted an underground nuclear explosion. In a short statement posted on its Web site, Negroponte's office confirmed that the size of the explosion was less than 1 kiloton, a comparatively small nuclear explosion. Each kiloton is equal to the force produced by 1,000 tons of TNT.

That's less than one-tenth the size of the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports. That could indicate that North Korea was unable to produce a bigger yield from its weapon.

"Analysis of air samples collected on October 11, 2006, detected radioactive debris which confirms that North Korea conducted an underground nuclear explosion in the vicinity of P'unggye on October 9, 2006," the statement said.

On Friday, a senior Bush administration official told The Associated Press that one test conducted on samples gathered after the detonation found a radioactive gas consistent with a nuclear explosion. At the time, however, U.S. intelligence was not ready to confirm that a nuclear test actually had taken place.

The statement from Negroponte's office provides the first official confirmation from the United States that a nuclear detonation took place, as Pyongyang has claimed.

Meanwhile, North Korea appeared to slip further into isolation, as China — under intense pressure to enforce new U.N. sanctions — inspected cargo trucks bound for its communist ally and stepped up construction of a border fence.

Japan — once a major trading partner with the North Korea — said it was considering further sanctions, and Australia banned the North's ships from its ports.

The Chinese inspections at a border crossing with the North came amid concerns that Beijing would ignore the new U.N. sanctions leveled against the reclusive communist country for its proclaimed nuclear test. China is a major trader with North Korea and its support is key to the success of the new U.N. measures, which call for nations to check cargo leaving and arriving from North Korea.

"Chinese action on cargo inspection appears to have been prompted as much by a fear of reprisal after the U.N. vote as it is by the mandate of the resolution itself," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk.

"Chinese diplomats have made clear that they don't expect to participate in inspection of ship cargo, either as part of the voluntary U.N. provision, or as part of the U.S.-sponsored Proliferation Security Initiative," Falk reports, "but the inspection of land-based cargo has been occurring for some time as part of routine security and may increase."

China's customs agency and its commerce and foreign ministries refused to say whether the cargo checks were prompted by U.N. sanctions, but a top U.S. diplomat said the inspections were promising.

R. Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, said there will be "enormous pressure on China to live up to their responsibility" in enforcing United Nations punishment of its ally, North Korea. "We are all banking on that."

But former State Department official Jack Pritchard says the sanctions so far are not enough to make the North Koreans regret testing, reports Martin.

"It's going to require some other measure of intervention to get the North Koreans to stop from what they're doing," Pritchard told Martin. Sanctions alone are certainly not going to work."

[ellygumera]

Chinese inspection of cargoes going into its neighbor, looks very promising. This government may not publicly acknowlege that they will abide by the UN resolution, but their actions speak louder than words.

Indeed, this UN resolution proves that when the world is united in its action - no nation can remain defiant, good job Amb. John Bolton!

[patriotic9]

ellygumera
Practically,do you think all this will stop North Korea from selling her nukes to OSAMA BIN LADEN.This is an UNCONVENTIONAL WAR ERA.The way we used to conduct war and diplomacy during WWII won't work now as we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan.It's none of chinese business if North Korea sells her Nukes to OSAMA BIN LADEN,why should and would they care.Believe it or not,North Korea is the best ally of China and whatever she has done is with the full consent and help of China.Because of diplomacy,China herself can't threat United States so has given the FRONT LINE role to North Korea.We Americans need to take care of our safety in our own hands.In this dangerous world,relying on any country like China may result in a big disaster in the form of NUCLEAR ATTACK against us by the NUKES sold to OBL by North Korea.

[laurieleemoo]

ellygumera-----the CHINESE government has already PROVEN that they can not be trusted. They have tried to undermine the United Nations in every step of the way in trying to sanction N. Korea. This half hearted attempt---after they already stated they would not be enforcing the sanctions by not inspecting the cargo----well CHINA DOES NOT FOOL ME FOR ONE MINUTE. If they were truly on board they would not have fought the United Nations EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
i am sick and tired of the american people trying to blame our government for this. This problem could have EASILY have been solved from the getgo by CHINA. CHINA can be the only country to take SOLE RESPONSIBLITY for N. Korea obtaining Nuclear weapons. Now they will sell them to the terrorits. If we want to blame anyone in AMERICA for this ----WE SHOULD BLAME OURSELVES----THE AMERICAN PEOPLE----after all, WE are the ones who buy CHINA'S PRODUCTS. Our children and our grandchildren's future now depends on us NOT BUYING CHINA'S PRODUCTS. Now, that China has allowed the North to get nukes---well its only a matter of time before, south korea, japan want them.....China has caused a domino effect and now our children's futures will be about nuclear wars. everytime we buy chinas products we have a hand in the destruction of our children and grandchildren's futures.

[laurieleemoo]

if you are not the type of person to do volunteer work or give to charity---there is one simple thing you can do to leave your good works behind on this earth---and that would be TO STOP BUYING CHINA'S PRODUCTS. If you do this one simple little thing---you can say you did your part in trying to stop nuclear weapons from spreading uncontrollable throughout the world

[laurieleemoo]

i would say that is the least we can do for our children---don't you? The other thing you can do is SPREAD THE WORD---DON'T BUY CHINA'S PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[patriotic9]

laurieleemoo
You seem to care about United States,but I feel very sad to say that some rich Billionares in our country are so selfish that they don't care about United States or the people at all.Only thing they care about is money which is never and will never be enough for them.The American buisnesses are the ones who have been transfered to China as they don't have to pay too much money on labor like they have to in USA.Nobody can change the mind of these businessmen period.In our society where a wife divorces her husband for making money on the name of alimony an child support and a husband kills her wife for making money on the name of Life Insurance,if we think for the sake of our lives these buisness people will be satisfied on lesser profits,we are doing nothing but fooling oursleves.

[laurieleemoo]

no one can change these business men's ways, huh........how about this----they better start putting their orders in to the other countries and are dying to compete with China.....They can not very well sell their Chinese products if we aren't buying----now can they! I don't give a *** if they want to try to sell them to me---I won't be buying and no one can FORCE me to buy chinese products.

[laurieleemoo]

Now---if there were a whole bunch a people out there like me----we could deal with this N. Korean issue. And don't even try to use the word can't with me. I was raised to operate under the assumption that I CAN----and the word can't isnt even in my vocabulary when it comes to doing something i put my mind to. So, just try and stop me----I am on a mission to make sure that as many people as possible stop buyinh the Chinese Product.

[brianp55]

The situation in North Korea is disintegrating because of the self-serving policies of the NK government and has now reached the point of being intolerable, even by their standards. So, the NK government has decided that they want the American taxpayer to bail tem out and prop them up. In order to achieve this, they are threatening us. Bail us out or we'll develop nuclear weapons. Bail us out our we'll develop an ICBM. Bail us out or it wil be an act of war. This is not the sole responsibility of the U.S. and therefore, the six party talks are the best way to proceed. If this proves ultimately to be unsatisfactory to NK, then we fight them.

[laurieleemoo]

what makes you think going back to the table will work this time----we have already been there, we have already had an agreement with Kim Jung Mentally Il----HE BROKE THE AGREEMENT. What exactly is it that makes you think he would keep his agreement now----even if we did go back to the table and work something out!!!???????????????????????????????

[laurieleemoo]

how many times do you have to stick your finger in the socket before YOU learn.. I don't know about you, but it only took me ONCE

[mjv2944]

Put economic pressure on China. They have gotten a taste of free enterprise and like it. If we stop buying or stop our companies from buying and/or manufacturing over there, they may start to listen. Its time to think of America and to hell with the global economics.

[three-o-six]

Here is a good one folks!! A one Ktn warhead is realitivly small as Nuclear warheads go -- smaller than the ones that we dropped on Japan. Most countries first attempt is around a 15 Ktn. Now it is possible that this was a fizzle -- but I just learned an interesting fact over the weekend. Keep in mind that i have not personally researched this so you all may want to look into it yourselves. I found out that a one Ktn explosion is what is used as a trigger for an H-Bomb. They may be testing a trigger rather than a warehead. If you know anything about nuclear weopens you realize that the H-Bomb is hundreds of times more powerful than a simple A-Bomb. The source that i learned this from pointed out that NK was propably behind the developement of the warheads that Pakastan posses. They have the know how and the technology to build such a device. The small size of this test may have a more sinister slant to it than we realize. Again this is not something I know for sure -- but you can bet I am researching it further!!!

[laurieleemoo]

I agree with you. However, if you want to talk global economics.....if we spread our business from China to other countries a lot more countries would benefit and their economies would get better. China should NOT be a MONOPOLY when it comes to PRODUCT----or anything else for that matter. They can not be trusted---THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[verrz]

Bluster, hot air, and chest thumping will only serve to further obscure the nub of the issue here: Think how the Bush crew loudly touted its success with taming Libya, a former terrorist state. How did they accomplish this? By sitting down one on one with the Libyans.
To the TV generation adrenaline junkies out there who have have as deep an understanding of this issue as the electronic image on their screens, put a sock in it and try engaging your mind and heart for a change.

[laurieleemoo]

hey three o six----all the more reason to BOYCOTT CHINA'S PRODUCTS. When you look at a disease a good doctor will try to treat the illness itself and not just the symptons. In this case N. Korea is the symtpon and CHINA is the disease!!!!!! If we want to deal with N. Korea----we have to SLAM the pressure down on CHINA-----the main culprit in all this!!!!!!!!!

[laurieleemoo]

hey verrz---when are you going to stop blaming our government and take some responsibility as an American. WE ARE THE PROBLEM---WE THE PEOPLE, BY THE PRODUCTS FROM CHINA----If you have ever bought a chinese product---then you are part of the problem---well, not just you per say, of course we all are---we the american people buy the products and no one forces us to do so.

[laurieleemoo]

all this other *** is merely POLITICAL RHETORIC-----Enough already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[laurieleemoo]

yeah right verzz--why don't we sit down and make an agreement with someone who we have already been there-done that with. Yes, why don't we just stick our finger right back in the socket and get burned again. All you people who want to go back to six party talks----where have you been----WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[frankly6]

Can't stop buying China's products. Their investment in US debt is the only thing holding our economy together. Welcome to the new Chinese cetury courtesy of the GOP and an 8 trillion dollar defecit.

As for not moving factories from the USA to China, there are actually tax incentives, courtesty of the GOP, that actually encourage American companies to move manufacturing oversees.

[laurieleemoo]

would you make an agreement with someone you have had experience in dealing with and know they don't keep their agreements. Would that not be called a FUTILE EFFORT. And exactly how many times should we try this---okay you say we should try one more time---and there will be the people who would never learn and want to try over and over. I mean where to these endless, good for nothing talks end. Why do we keep going thru this over and over again. What the first basketball was not good enough. What he just wants to keep talking with us til he gets his BASKETBALL COLLECTION. ???????

[laurieleemoo]

FRANKLY6-----there goes someone using that word again "CAN'T" . You are telling me we CAN'T????? Are you actually trying to tell me that i HAVE to buy CHINA'S PRODUCTS??????? oh yeah----well watch me and watch everyone else who doesn't buy from them either. WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO----ARREST US. you see---i never use the word "can't' when it comes to doing something i intent to be successful in....No, sorry ----the word 'CAN'T" IS NOT EVEN IN MY VOCABULARY. i was raised that I CAN do anything I put my mind to......SO WATCH ME----AND JUST TRY AND STOP ME-----'cause my mission now in life is to make sure the americans stop buying chinese products. i CAN stop buying CHINA'S products and NO ONE can stop me or anyone else who wants tojoin in on the BOYCOTT.

[laurieleemoo]

and who's got you brainwashed anyway----that we "can't" and that China's investment in our economy is holding us together----do you know what the TRADE DEFICIT is with China. I hate to tell you but they we import way more than we export to China. Haven't you noticed they have little by little taken THEIR business elsewhere.

[laurieleemoo]

I bet people said the same thing about Japan when I was growing up as everything was made in Japan then----This situation with China being the monopoly in product can change just like it did with Japan. According to people like you though--i guess its impossible, huh???? Wrong!!! You know---however do you accomplish anything in life with an attitude like that???

[patriotic9]

Laurieleemoo
Ford company is goin to lay off about 30,000 employees in five years from USA.It's because they have built the same industry in INDIA.The same Mechanical Engineer they pay about $8,0000 a month in US,they will pay $800 a month in INDIA.Do they care about people in USA loosing their jobs.Hell no.It's just one example.How many things we gonna stop buying due to this reason?

[laurieleemoo]

i don't think ford's problem is where they do business---its the fact that there sales are way down---everyone is buying Japanese cars---they are better built. Ford may do themselves some good to build a better car. If americans learn to buy american cars also---that would help. Also, have you ever wondered how much money this country would have if were weren't always giving all our money to these other nations. People say we over spend----well that may be, but we have also over donated over the past 50 years. We aren't the world's answer to all the world's problems

[laurieleemoo]

yes, that is a good one janem4----you are right---according to the world------its all Bush' fault---and i guess according to the americans all our problems have arisen in the past 6 years. That is pretty funny, isn't it?

[laurieleemoo]

oh and frankly6---i don't know about you---but i will do what i have to---i will go without if i have to in order to get the message thru to China. I am willing to sacrifice a little in order to keep nuclear weapons from spreading. It would be a small price to pay--don't you think? Maybe its too hard for you though---maybe you can not hang tuff with the rest of us.

[adventurepa]

The reason people buy chinese products is the price. They are less then American made products.
Be prepared to pay higher prices if we boycott Chinese products. That probably includes the computer your typing on.

The US cannot invade or attack North Korea because the troops are stuck in Iraq.
Can't use nukes because then everyone who has them will think it is ok to do the same to their enemy.

Talking and sanctions is the only option right now, other then bombing. Bombing means POW's and the threat of invasion of South Korea. And the beginning of the draft.
The answer is never that simple.

When the sanctions fail to make progress, the only option will be war.
Let's hope that's not something else Bush leaves for the next President to get us out of when he leaves office.

The only real answer is to put a stop to it now.
Just as John Kennedy did with Cuba.
Let the world know we will not accept North Korea with Nukes. Or Iran.
That is the only way to get action.
To put an end to it now.
Anyway you look at it, It's bad for all of us.

Funny,
If it was Denmark or Iceland, who wanted Nukes, would we be as worried?

[ellygumera]

It's called TRUST...finally, we have gained the trust and confidence of the Chinese government - such that they are willing to help us make a better peaceful world where everyone enjoys abundance of peace and harmony.

This is one thing Great about the Chinese people, once you gained their trust and confidence - they become one of your most valuable friends! Remember the early Chinese in American built the railways for progress...looks like China is helping the West build another railway again - the railway for peace and prosperity for a better tomorrow for East & West.

[laurieleemoo]

adventurapa---yes i am willing to pay a little more---small price to pay for diverting nuclear wars don't you think????? well--you tell that to your grandchildren will you---that they live in a nuclear world 'cause grandpa did not want to pay a few $ more. You would really be so selfish to use that excuse to your grandchildren when they are living in a highly dangerous, nuclear world full of nuclear wars---I'm sure that we go over well with them!

[laurieleemoo]

ellygumera---what planet are you from---the Chinese have never been able to be trusted. We have just tolerated them as we do business with them----but don't you think for a minute that anyone has ever actually TRUSTED them.WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!

[laurieleemoo]

let me guess ellygunerma---you are chinese right?

[laurieleemoo]

all americans KNOW the Chinese are not to be trusted---except you I guess!!!!

[frankly6]

We move our manufacturing to China, we buy there products, and they being flush with US currency finance our dept buy buying US Government issued bonds. This allows us to keep our government and economy afloat by financig our record budget deficit (8 trillion dollars). We basically have traded our prosperity and future for cheaper goods. They hold more US debt than any other country. If they called in what we owe them tomorow, our government would go bankrupt. Simple as that. One thing we can do is balance the budget and pay down this insane debt. Another is to stop giving US companies tax incentives to move their operations to China and other countries.

[frankly6]

Try to find something that wasn't made in China. I bet your computer and nearly everything else you own was as well. Check it out.

[laurieleemoo]

oh yoo hoo frankly6----when you make a concerted effort as i have been for the past 2 months you will find that there are actually other suppliers---you would not possibly know this though unless you had made the effort. I have bought lots of things in the past few months--guess what NOT A THING from CHINA did I buy. Actually, the WTO has brought in numerous countries that would just love to compete with China---namely, Indonesia, Turkey, Mexico, Bulgaria, the Phillippines I could go on and on .....

[laurieleemoo]

people have you brainwashed if you think China is the only place now to buy from

[laurieleemoo]

frankly6----I hate to tell you but 8 trillion $ is about .001 of our GDP---if even that. We have a long way to do before we go bankrupt-----we can also collect on money people owe us. Or better yet---stop trying to solve THE WORLD's problems by constantly throwing our taxpayers $ to them.

[frankly6]

If we stop buying their products they will stop financing our record budget deficits (8 trillion). Then we crash and burn. Look into it. They are the single biggest creditor of the USA.

[frankly6]

Nearly 20 cents of every tax dollar we give goes to just paying the interest on the debt we already owe. Yet everytime Congress comes to the legal limit of debt that we can take on, they simply raise the limit and continue borrowing.

[laurieleemoo]

i hate to tell you frankly6 but 8 trillion $ is not going to make or break the US (I don't give a hoot who are biggest creditor is.) Gawd, you are so brainwashed. Do you know that even at the rate China is growing today---even if you add on interest------in 50 years they might catch up to our economy----and that would be if we didn't grow at all (which is just not possible). China may be the biggest growing economy in the world---but they will still NEVER catch us. You really need to get your facts straight

[frankly6]

The U.S.'s huge budget deficit threatens to make the country's economy less competitive, according to a study by the World Economic Forum, an institute in Switzerland.

The institute's annual study of global competitiveness says the U.S. economy is the sixth most-competitive in the world, slipping from first place in last year's ranking, a result of mediocre scores for its public finances.

[laurieleemoo]

the world really has you convinced that China is something to be afraid of or something? Chill out will you----they are not the high and might power you think they are. We still are however.
and that my friend---IS THE WAY IT IS!!!!

[frankly6]

Serial budget deficits in the U.S. have led to rising public debt, which means an increasing portion of government spending goes toward debt service. That means less money is available for spending on infrastructure, schools or other investments that could boost productivity. Heavy government borrowing, which means competing for money in financial markets with the private sector, also tends to drive up businesses' borrowing costs.

[laurieleemoo]

YOU REALLY DON'T REALIZE JUST HOW RICH THIS COUNTRY IS DO YOU? Obviously not-----I guess the democrats have really scared the *** out of you, huh.

[frankly6]

Your imunity to facts is astounding.

[laurieleemoo]

i don't care who is the biggest growing or if our's is the 6th highest in growing economy----the world still has a long way to go before they even BEGIN to catch up to us....

[frankly6]

Question when shoul we be cocerned. Perhaps when 30 cents of every tax dollar goes to paying the interest on debt? 50 cents? 75 cents? It was 10 cents when the GOP took over congress. Hmmmm....

[laurieleemoo]

frankly---we have had dieficits before and always will---but that still DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACTS THAT I HAVE STATED TO YOU!!!!