US: Strike on N. Korea Possible if Nuclear Test Held

[Jeffrey Thomason]

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/...No=89689&id=Po

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command says the U.S. may launch a surgical strike against missile bases and nuclear test sites in North Korea if it conducts a third nuclear test.

Admiral Samuel Locklear explained the U.S.'s position on Tuesday at a meeting with South Korean defense journalists at the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) in Seoul.

Locklear said Washington is closely watching the North in relation to the possibility of a third nuclear test, adding the U.S. and South Korea are looking at all options including a surgical strike.

[Gib]

Does Obama know?

[burrito]

That news blindsided me for sure!

[jed turtle]

Does Obama know?

the Nobel Peace Prize winner doesn't have a need to know. he's busy with vacation plans anyways.

[hambone]

China may have provided key technology for North Korea’s missile launch last week, contravening international sanctions — when they’re supposed to be party to talks about ending the People’s Republic’s nuclear program. The Washington Times reports:

China likely provided the mobile long-range missile launcher that North Korea displayed in a military parade over the weekend, which would put Beijing in violation of U.N. sanctions, analysts say.

The 16-wheeled vehicle, known as a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL), is apparently based on a Chinese design, said Ted Parsons of IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly. . . .

“If confirmed, China’s involvement in providing this erector-launcher toNorth Korea would put it in breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874,” said James Hardy, the Asia Pacific editor for Jane’s Defense Weekly.

The resolution bans countries from supplying North Korea with “any arms or related materiel, or providing financial transactions, technical training, services, or assistance related to such arms.”

The supply of such a vehicle to North Korea in defiance of international sanctions “would require approval from the highest levels of the Chinese government and the People’s Liberation Army,” said Mr. Parsons.

That has serious implications for the six-party talks on curbing North Korea’s nuclear program – the only forum for discussions between Pyongyang and the international community. . . .

If China has been secretly aiding the North Korean ballistic missile program, that “could fatally undermine the six-party talks [because they are] built on the premise that there is a unanimous desire to prevent the North from developing a nuclear capability,” Mr. Hardy said.

[sunny225]

The fat kid in charge of NK now knows the muslim-in-chief ain't gonna do anything. You kidding?
Especially with China, the guys who owns our gov, helping with the launches & such. Y'all don't think China cares at all about what the rest of the world thinks about them, do ya? lol

[Nellie Belle]

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States agreed Tuesday that the world should be united in dealing with North Korea as it faces more pressure after last week's rocket launch, an official said.

After a meeting with Glyn Davies, U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, South Korea's top nuclear envoy Lim Sung-nam also urged Pyongyang to avert its course of provocation and make the "right choice."

"The two nations welcomed the U.N. Security Council's adoption of a meaningful presidential statement on North Korea's missile launch," Lim told reporters in front of the State Department building in Washington.

On Monday, the council unanimously passed the document strongly condemning Pyongyang's rocket launch and calling on member states to find ways to tighten sanctions on the communist regime.

"We agreed that North Korea should listen carefully to such a voice of the international community and make the right choice," Lim said.

He added the international community should also cooperate closely to implement the U.N. Security Council's statement.

Asked about the fate of the Feb. 29 deal between the U.S. and North Korea, Lim said there is "no need any more to talk about it" under the current situation.

The North announced earlier that it would no longer be committed to the agreement under which it is obliged to suspend some of its uranium-enrichment activity.

Lim arrived in Washington earlier in the day. He is scheduled to meet White House officials and Korea experts on Wednesday before returning to Seoul the following day.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/nati...00800315F.HTML

[Nellie Belle]

North Korea said Tuesday it is no longer bound by a Feb. 29 agreement with the U.S. pledging to halt missile and nuclear arms development in exchange for food aid.

"Since the U.S. violated the Feb. 29 agreement with its undisguised hostile acts, we will no longer be bound to it," North Korea's Foreign Ministry said. "The U.S. will be held wholly accountable for all the ensuing consequences," it added.

A government source here said the comments hint at an imminent nuclear test by the North. Pyongyang agreed on Feb. 29 to halt uranium enrichment and allow IAEA inspectors to return.

The North issued the statement a day after the UN Security Council "strongly condemned" the North for launching what it claims was a space rocket on Friday and tightened sanctions. Pyongyang accused the U.S. of abusing its position as the chair of the UNSC to deny Pyongyang's right to develop its defense and civilian space programs.

"We have therefore become able to take the necessary retaliatory measures free from the agreement," the statement said. "We resolutely and totally reject the unreasonable behavior of the UN Security Council to violate [North Korea's] legitimate right to launch satellites. We will expand and strengthen space development institutions and continue launching a variety of working satellites needed for the economic development of the country."

The international community believes that North Korea’s latest rocket launch was a guise to test its newest long-range missile.

Meanwhile, U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Locklear told South Korean reporters on Tuesday that Seoul and Washington are looking at "all options" to prevent further provocations from North Korea. Asked about the possibility of a "surgical strike" against North Korean nuclear facilities, Locklear said, "I can tell you that with the alliance we are potentially looking at all options."

Regarding what looked like a long-range missile unveiled during North Korea's military parade over the weekend, Locklear said he was not sure whether it was a functional missile or just a mock up.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/...041800655.html

[danielboon]

A spokesman for North Korea's Foreign Ministry has accused the US of "overt acts of enmity" after the suspension of a nuclear deal between the countries.

In a statement released late Tuesday through state media, the spokesman warned that North Korea will take countermeasures following the breakdown of the deal, in which the US agreed to provide much-needed food aid in exchange for a moratorium on the North's nuclear and missile activity. Washington suspended the February deal after North Korea fired a long-range rocket last Friday. (AP)http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...217421,00.html

[danielboon]

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/...No=89689&id=Po

ah just what we need