North Korea Threatens Military Action

Country Says S. Korea's Participation In U.S.-Led Ship Interception Program Tantamount To Declaration Of War

(CBS/AP)  North Korea's military says it considers South Korea's participation in a U.S.-led program to intercept ships suspected of spreading weapons of mass destruction tantamount to a declaration of war against the North.

The communist North's military said in a statement Wednesday that it will respond with "immediate, strong military measures" if the South actually stops and searches any North Korean ships under the Proliferation Security Initiative.

The statement, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, said North Korea no longer considers itself bound by the armistice that ended the Korean War, as a protest over the South's participation.

South Korea announced its participation in the anti-proliferation program Tuesday, one day after the North conducted a nuclear test.

“Without fanfare, South Korea signed onto the Proliferation Security Agreement this week and President Obama welcomed the decision - which means South Korea could possibly confront a North Korean vessel,” CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk said, “and the situation would change rapidly from missile tests to confrontation.”

Earlier Wednesday, North Korea restarted its weapons-grade nuclear power plant and fired off its sixth short-range missile, news reports said, deepening a standoff with world powers following its latest nuclear test.

U.S. military surveillance planes flying out of Japan may have witnessed the test launches on Tuesday, but the Pentagon has yet to confirm that missiles were fired, reports CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen.

The missile launches over the past two days came as the U.N. Security Council debated possible new sanctions against the isolated communist nation for its nuclear test on Monday. Retaliatory options were limited, however, and no one was talking publicly about military action.

South Korea's mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that U.S. spy satellites have detected steam coming from a nuclear facility at North Korea's main Yongbyon plant, indicating the North is reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods to harvest weapons-grade plutonium.

Its report quoted an unnamed official. South Korea's Defense Ministry and the National Intelligence Service - the country's main spy agency - said they cannot confirm the report.

The North had said it would begin reprocessing in protest over international criticism of its April 5 rocket launch.

North Korea is believed to have enough plutonium for at least half a dozen atomic bombs. The North also has about 8,000 spent fuel rods which, if reprocessed, could allow the country to harvest 13-18 pounds of plutonium - enough to make at least one nuclear bomb, experts said.

North Korea test-fired three short-range missiles Tuesday, including one late at night, from the east coast city of Hamhung, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. South Korea's spy chief confirmed two other missiles were launched Monday, but reports put the number at three Monday for a total of six.

Pyongyang also warned ships to stay away from waters off its western coast this week, a sign it may be gearing up for more missile tests, South Korea's coast guard said.

North Korea is "trying to test whether they can intimidate the international community" with its nuclear and missile activity, said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"But we are united, North Korea is isolated and pressure on North Korea will increase," Rice said.

Diplomats at the U.N. are working on a Security Council resolution that Rice says will levy new sanctions. They might even include enforcing an earlier resolution to stop and search North Korean cargo ships at sea, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

"We're going to increase the pressure. We're prepared to step up our efforts to intercept and interdict prohibitive cargo from North Korea," Rice told CBS' The Early Show.

“North Korea has become the world’s nuclear pirate by upping the ante with each new round of denuclearization agreements, and there are more divisions among Security Council members with each missile test,” said Falk reporting from the U.N. “Although the five permanent members of the Council as well as Japan and South Korea are huddling to draft a new, tougher resolution, China appears to continue to want to work within existing sanctions rather than to impose new ones.”

Petersen reports that Beijing is having to tread very carefully in how it deals with its suddenly-more-belligerent ally. North Korea is presently a huge importer of Chinese goods, but that cross-border flow could turn into a flood of North Korean refugees seeking safety in China if tensions escalate too far. (Click here to read more from Petersen.)

"I think the country that has the toughest situation here is actually China, which really has to decide how hard they want to press North Korea," Wendy Sherman, a former advisor to President Clinton, told Martin.

The U.N. Security Council swiftly condemned North Korea's nuclear test on Monday as "a clear violation" of a 2006 resolution banning them and said it will start work immediately on a new one that could result in stronger measures against the reclusive nation.

Even China and Russia - North Korea's closest allies - joined Western powers and representatives from the rest of the world on the council to voice strong opposition to the underground explosion.

After a brief emergency meeting held at Japan's request, the council demanded that North Korea abide by two previous resolutions, which among other things called for Pyongyang to return to six-party talks aimed at eliminating its nuclear program. It also called on all other U.N. member states to abide by sanctions imposed on the North.

Rice told CBS Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith the North Korean regime, "needs to understand that its actions have consequences. The international community, the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, we're not going to walk away and just throw up our hands and say, 'Let them pursue this path.' They will pay a price for their actions."

Rice said she expected the coming meeting of the Security Council to yield a new resolution on Pyongyang which she believes "will have teeth in it.

"I expect additional sanctions. The pressure will increase on North Korea, economically and otherwise," the ambassador told Smith.

Asked whether the reclusive communist nation's defiance during the previous 48 hours had prompted the Obama administration to more seriously consider a military response, Rice told CBS News the government would "take the steps that are necessary to protect our country and our people.

"We are still focused on what united pressure we can continue to muster and mount to make North Korea recognize that the path it's on is self-destructive and unacceptable," she added.

But many experts believe what's really needed is a high-level envoy like former president Carter, who met with the so-called great leader Kim Il Sung to defuse a crisis in 1994. His son, Kim Jong Il, now rules the hermit kingdom.

"It doesn't make any sense to go unless you're going to talk to Kim Jong Il himself," David Sherman of the Institute for Science and International Security told Martin. "I mean you have to talk to the leader to figure this out and that's, anything else doesn't make any sense at this point."

[naj1953]

I believe they want a war with us. I really hope our government knows what to do. I am very afraid for the American people...I can not see NK wanting peace.

[rolyb]

It is very clear they (NK) are doing this for offensive purposes.

[souljam76]

If North Korea launches even ONE nuclear weapon in any military action, The United States MUST go to WAR with North Korea.

[cbsantispin]

This is China's problem. Its their back yard and they installed this *******, so let them bear the brunt of this crazy country. We should pull all our troops out and leave the South Koreans and ChInese to deal with NK.

As for Japan, we should announce that we support the rearming of Japan due to the threats of North Korea. If that doesn't cause the Chinese to apply pressure to NK, nothing will...
Posted by presjfk at 3:36 PM : May 27, 2009

I agree, this is in China's back yard and China should take the lead in dealing with North Korea. It's time for China to earn it's new superpower stripes! I also think it's time for Japan to rearm itself to address balance-of-power issues surrounding Japan. The real threat from North Korea is that it will export its nuclear material the same way it exports its missiles. The Russians think this will escalate into a nuclear war and Russia may be right, the U.S. has a nuclear capability now, why should it wait until North Korea gets one that can reach the U.S., it can be Mate in one very quickly for North Korea right now, without delay!

[batchitcrazy]

heh heh heh
Posted by vietnamwar at 11:10 AM : May 27, 2009
--------------------------------
Bush said on national television less then one year after 9/11 that he "..did not care about bin laden or for that matter even where he was."
On international television there were images of Bush walking "hand in hand" with the Saudi King.

[weedapoopl]

Something is fishy to me, when Iran comes out of the blue and says....."we are not working with North Korea on nuclear capabilities"
Posted by Joe-NY-6 at 9:56 AM : May 27, 2009

And just think, Bill Clinton HELPED North Korea to develop nuclear capabillty by GIVING THEM TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS - purely for "peaceful" purposes, of course.

North Korea promptly converted these reactors over to producing weapons-grade nuclear materials, which they are using now in their nuclear tests.

Bill Clinton should be tried for crimes against humanity for helping N Korea develop nuclear capabililty.

And ya, what are the chances they're sharing their technology with other rogue nations like Iran - ALL THANKS TO BILL CLINTON.

Bill Clinton should be hanged for crimes against humanity.

[notblue]

tj217, it took more than one man to go to war, it took congress including both ssides of the isle. How does one convince yourself that the nonsense you spew is somehow factual? Amazing!

[notblue]

tj217, your blinding hatred for fellow conservative Americans reminds of the mindless schoolyard lemmings who's foolish nonsensical banter would sound absurd to even themselves if one could record and play it back for them. When will libs like you understand that savage dictators, regimes, and despots and their ongoing agenda are not the fault of the U.S., republicans, or fellow Americans?????????????? What a sad person you are.

[onesword]

SANCTIONS DON'T WORK.......
Posted by vietnamwar
I guess it's just more evidence that the world thinks BS Obama is a joke. He'll express extreme disapointment in their decisions and run to the UN to join with other historically weak leaders.....who will pass resolutions that condemn and condemn and condemn and condemn....
Posted by vietnamwar
The story at hand was N. Korea and their "out-of-control" character. Right now all they are doing is threatening...once they take action against someone...I am confident the US president will make an appropriate action (whether he is a Democrat or a Republican).
Posted by Tx-clipper

I totally agree with Tx-clipper. Why flex your muscles all the time, because you have them.

[vietnamwar]

I expect additional sanctions. The pressure will increase on North Korea, economically and otherwise.

Susan Rice,
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

SANCTIONS DON'T WORK.......

[Tx-clipper]

It would be more constructive for persons who "Blog" to not personally attack one another. Persons who think like "cave men" have a NEED to resort to insults and violence to make themselves feel superior. Those who can discuss issues without being insulted while being sensitive to others allows ideas to be exchanged and creates a learning environment. The story at hand was N. Korea and their "out-of-control" character. Right now all they are doing is threatening...once they take action against someone...I am confident the US president will make an appropriate action (whether he is a Democrat or a Republican).

[inachu1]

This is kinda dumb handing down role as leader only by bloodline.

[vietnamwar]

I guess it's just more evidence that the world thinks BS Obama is a joke. He'll express extreme disapointment in their decisions and run to the UN to join with other historically weak leaders.....who will pass resolutions that condemn and condemn and condemn and condemn....

[vietnamwar]

Did Bill Clinton paying N. Korea to abandon their Nuke Program.???????so who is retarded ?????
Did Bill Clinton paying N. Korea to abandon their Nuke Program.???????so who is retarded ?????
Did Bill Clinton paying N. Korea to abandon their Nuke Program.???????so who is retarded ?????

[vietnamwar]

Because they're Retardican, just like you?
Posted by tj217-2009

Did Bill Clinton paying N. Korea to abandon their Nuke Program.???????so who is retarded ?????

[vietnamwar]

you idiot ????
Posted by tj217-2009

This was another great job by Bill Clinton. While he was paying N. Korea to abandon their Nuke Program ???????or not ask you friend Dems......

[pepperwood2]

Mogadishu victims swamp hospitals....................A man carries the injured body of his son at the entrance to Mogadishu"s Medina hospital on May 22, 2009
Medics have been dealing with bullet and shrapnel wounds

Doctors at one of the main hospitals in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, say they have been swamped with patients injured in an upsurge of fighting.

Medics say some of the casualties are being admitted with horrific injuries.

At Medina Hospital, tents have been set up in the corridors and mattresses laid under trees outside for the victims.

Tell me again now ....... How Bill Clinton & Madeline Not So Bright & The UN got these people into this situation. And How Bo, Hillary, & the UN are going to get them out of this so this won't happen to them Again or ......... So Sad!

[vietnamwar]

Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton! Your work has made this mess. Jimmy gave Iran to the Islamists and Bill gave the nuke technology to N. Korea. Now they are working together to bring Barry Obama to his knees...oh, wait, he was on his knees already to the King of Saudi Arabia!....heh heh heh

[vietnamwar]

For starters, had Bush dealt with N. Korea---who has WMD,
Posted by tj217-2009

They were acting like a** under Reagan...he did nothing
They were acting like a**under Bush Sr.. He did nothing
They were acting like a** under Clinton.. He gave them MONEY and a reactor... No not the one they are using to produce plutonium, they got that from the Soviets
They acted like a**under Bush Jr, to include explode a nuke..He did nothing
They are acting like a** under Obama, also exploding a nuke.. He will do nothing as well.

So understand the History first eh...

[vietnamwar]

Obama will talk to them and be sorry for the past actions of the USA ....the crowds will cheer for him and all will be well.... mean time Michelle will show us how to dig in the dirt for food....