[mitchell_pgh]

So... do you all think it really happened?

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

So... do you all think it really happened?

Was there a date when we suspected it might happen? I thought it was all very speculative at this point? Or did you see some news bulletin I might have missed?

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by selowitch

Great. Here we have real terrorism with the capacity to kill millions, and we, America, are depleted of the strength and resolve we need to meet this menace because we squandered it all on a campaign in Iraq against a regime that posed little threat to us and a war in Afghanistan that failed to take out bin Laden.

Bin Laden may very well be dead.

Also, we have very little leverage with NK. Multilateral talks are needed. Also, their military is larger than our military.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy

Was there a date when we suspected it might happen? I thought it was all very speculative at this point? Or did you see some news bulletin I might have missed?

The USGS is saying that they didn't register anything... which is usually the first people to know.

I'm guessing that they didn't, but who knows. I'm watching MSNBC and they still don't have anything confirmed.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

The USGS is saying that they didn't register anything... which is usually the first people to know.

I'm guessing that they didn't, but who knows. I'm watching MSNBC and they still don't have anything confirmed.

The NYT website has a "confirmed" story as of 10:58 PM EDT.

No Radioactive Leakage From Weapons Test, North Korea Says


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 8, 2006
Filed at 10:58 p.m. ET

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea said Monday it has performed its first-ever nuclear weapons test. The country's official Korean Central News Agency said the test was performed and there was no radioactive leakage from the site.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

The USGS is saying that they didn't register anything... which is usually the first people to know.

I'm guessing that they didn't, but who knows. I'm watching MSNBC and they still don't have anything confirmed.

The BBC website has it confirmed as of 11:09 PM EDT.

North Korea in nuclear test claim

Reports from North and South Korea say the communist authorities in North Korea have carried out their first ever test of a nuclear weapon.
The North Korean state news agency said the underground test was a success.

In South Korea, President Roh Moo-hyun convened a meeting of his top security officials following the reports.

North Korea said last week that it planned to test a nuclear weapon, in defiance of international warnings, because of what it called US hostility.

[mitchell_pgh]

Their front page is saying "North Korea Says Nuclear Test a Success
No Radioactive Leakage Reported From Weapons Test Site"

So I'm guessing they jumped the gun. I'm waiting for the state department.

I dare not turn on Fox News

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

The USGS is saying that they didn't register anything... which is usually the first people to know.

I'm guessing that they didn't, but who knows. I'm watching MSNBC and they still don't have anything confirmed.

The Washington Post has an AP report from 11:03PM EDT.

North Korea Says It Conducted Successful Nuclear Weapons Test
Associated Press
Sunday, October 8, 2006; 11:03 PM


SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea said Monday it has performed its first-ever nuclear weapons test. The country's official Korean Central News Agency said the test was performed successfully and there was no radioactive leakage from the site.

"The nuclear test is a historic event that brought happiness to the [sic] our military and people," KCNA said.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the test was conducted at 10:36 a.m. (9:36 p.m. EDT Sunday) in Hwaderi near Kilju city, citing defense officials.

[Kevin]

Maybe if we throw a bunch of money at them, they will stop.

[mitchell_pgh]

I'm still not hearing anyone other than NK saying it really happened. I'm not saying it didn't... but I'm waiting for confirmation.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

Bin Laden may very well be dead.

But the fact that we neither killed nor captured him means we failed in Afghanistan. Oh, and the Taliban are coming back, too.

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

Also, we have very little leverage with NK. Multilateral talks are needed. Also, their military is larger than our military.

Clinton and Albright handled NK so much better than these blustering, ignorant fools in the Bush administration.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

Their front page is saying "North Korea Says Nuclear Test a Success
No Radioactive Leakage Reported From Weapons Test Site"

So I'm guessing they jumped the gun. I'm waiting for the state department.

I dare not turn on Fox News

From the Fox News website. Nothing melodramatic yet, just a variant of the same AP story.

North Korea Claims Test of Nuclear Weapon; U.S. Officials Can't Confirm
Sunday, October 08, 2006

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Monday it has performed its first-ever nuclear weapons test. The country's official Korean Central News Agency said the test was performed successfully and that there had been no radioactive leakage from the site.

"The nuclear test is a historic event that brought happiness to the our military and people," KCNA said. "The nuclear test will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region."

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has convened a meeting of security advisers over the issue, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, adding that intelligence over the test has been exchanged between concerned countries.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Maybe if we throw a bunch of money at them, they will stop.

I'm less worried about the US and more worried about Russia, China and Japan.

They are at deaths door at a number of situations.

[Spliffdaddy]

"Clinton and Albright handled NK so much better than these blustering, ignorant fools in the Bush administration."

Funniest statement ever!

Clinton sure did handle the problem.

no. wait...

he funded the nuke.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

"Clinton and Albright handled NK so much better than these blustering, ignorant fools in the Bush administration."

Funniest statement ever!

Clinton sure did handle the problem.

no. wait...

he funded the nuke.

C'mon don't be so cynical…if we just be nice to them things will be A-OK.

[dcmacdaddy]

What happened to the Forums the past 30 minutes? Did the North Koreans get to us? Is this a sign of war? Are they attacking late-night Mac users first?

OMG . . . Here they come now!!!

[Spliffdaddy]

Are you people thick-headed or what?

North Korea has *NEVER* told the truth.

They didn't test a nuke. They wouldn't know how.

Everytime they aren't on the front page they issue a threat. Then, they don't follow through.

quick! somebody write 'em a check

[TheWOAT]

The USGS website shows no activity in or around North Korea. I read that a 10 kiloton bomb test in Nevada (1951) registered 3.8 on the Richter scale... The Hiroshima bomb was 15 kiloton in size

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

Also, their military is larger than our military.

Who? NK? Um…No The only one larger is China.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by TheWOAT

The USGS website shows no activity in or around North Korea. I read that a 10 kiloton bomb test in Nevada (1951) registered 3.8 on the Richter scale... The Hiroshima bomb was 15 kiloton in size

The USGS database might have been altered by the NSA. But probably not.

[TheWOAT]

I think the US should just ignore North Korea and not give in to their bargaining techniques. Giving them money just encourages them to do something more outlandish for even more $$$....,
I think the US should give them a warning: "use a nuke on someone else, and you will no longer exist as a country... if you dont attack anyone, then we wont attack you"

[Spliffdaddy]

NK troops including reserves = 5,800,000

USA troops including reserves = 3,000,000

NK annual defense budget = $4.5 billion

USA annual defense budget = $400billion

So NK spends about $775 for each soldier per year

USA = $133,333 per soldier

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

NK troops including reserves = 5,800,000

USA troops including reserves = 3,000,000

NK annual defense budget = $4.5 billion

USA annual defense budget = $400billion

Well, I didn't even consider the reserves.

[TheWOAT]

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program � Magnitude 4.2 - NORTH KOREA

Now there is an event showing up, but I dont know if this is the "Test Site"

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

NK troops including reserves = 5,800,000
USA troops including reserves = 3,000,000

We don't have the dubious luxury of forcible conscription. Besides, it would be much more relevant to measure how much iron we could drop on North Korea via air and sea bombardment. We would flatten them in no time. The one thing they have on us is the threat of using their new nuke on South Korea. They know we can't let that happen.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

I'm still not hearing anyone other than NK saying it really happened. I'm not saying it didn't... but I'm waiting for confirmation.

South Korea detected a tremor in the Earth at the time North Korea claimed to have done the test, one consistent with an underground nuclear test. I'd consider that verification.

[Spliffdaddy]

Originally Posted by TheWOAT

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program � Magnitude 4.2 - NORTH KOREA

Now there is an event showing up, but I dont know if this is the "Test Site"

Interesting.

I'd be really surprised, though. But then, they've had over a decade to build a nuke.

Somehow, I don't think I'll lose any sleep over it.

It would just paint a big bullseye on North Korea.

But hey, the UN can just draft a resolution and take care of the threat.

[TheWOAT]

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program � Magnitude 4.2 - NORTH KOREA

magnitude 4.2 , Event on 10:36 am local time.. consistent with news reports.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by selowitch

We don't have the dubious luxury of forcible conscription. Besides, it would be much more relevant to measure how much iron we could drop on North Korea via air and sea bombardment. We would flatten them in no time. The one thing they have on us is the threat of using their new nuke on South Korea. They know we can't let that happen.

I think their troops are probably poorly equipped with low moral.

But, as you said, that's not the problem. The problem is that North Korea could easily turn South Korea or Japan into a glass parking lot.

[Spliffdaddy]

confirmed.

It's on Drudgereport. And drudge ain't never wrong.

[Spliffdaddy]

they'll want a big check now.

Sucks to be a North Korean right about now. Knowing your life will be measured in days.

[TheWOAT]

It could become "The Night-Light of Asia"

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Somehow, I don't think I'll lose any sleep over it.

It would just paint a big bullseye on North Korea.

We can't touch North Korea now. As soon as we touch them they'll start lobbing nukes at all their neighbors. Japan, South Korea... they wouldn't care if they were even involved in the military action against them.

Congratulations to the Bush administration for again letting the important issues go for too long until they're a really big mess. If we had been talking to North Korea in the early 2000's maybe this could have been solved. Now not even military action will help.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by selowitch

Clinton and Albright handled NK so much better than these blustering, ignorant fools in the Bush administration.

selowich, the Clintonistas and Jimmy Carter were responsible for allowing NK to get nukes and put America into the position that we're in. And Albright was a total pig.

[Spliffdaddy]

hahahaha

goMac, you're kidding, right?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

selowich, the Clintonistas and Jimmy Carter were responsible for allowing NK to get into the position that America's in. And Albright was a total pig.

How often has Bush sent a diplomat to North Korea? For all the trash talking your doing about Clinton and Albright, note the Albright has actually been to North Korea. How many people in the Bush cabinet have been to North Korea to try to solve this issue?

[Spliffdaddy]

*shakes his head in disbelief*

[TheWOAT]

Originally Posted by goMac

Congratulations to the Bush administration for again letting the important issues go for too long until they're a really big mess. If we had been talking to North Korea in the early 2000's maybe this could have been solved. Now not even military action will help.

I think North Korea was going to ignore any diplomatic agreements they would have signed and continue on with their Nuclear Weapons Program. Maybe the US should have pre-emptively bombed North Korea

[goMac]

Originally Posted by TheWOAT

I think North Korea was going to ignore any diplomatic agreements they would have signed and continue on with their Nuclear Weapons Program. Maybe the US should have pre-emptively bombed North Korea

I agree something should have been done about North Korea. The problem is it would have required significant military planning. North Korea already had a lot of missiles pointed at the south.

Of course with the Iraq idiocy we've had going Bush nicely ignoring North Korea.

[Spliffdaddy]

Originally Posted by TheWOAT

I think North Korea was going to ignore any diplomatic agreements they would have signed and continue on with their Nuclear Weapons Program. Maybe the US should have pre-emptively bombed North Korea

You *think* they would have ignored any agreements they signed?

Dude, they violated all the agreements that Clinton and the worthless wench Albright negotiated. And they knew it. Clinton just kept giving them money if they'd agree to stop developing nukes.

It was laughable THEN - and hardly news to any living breathing Americans.

What's even more laughable is the fact that liberals were upset that Dubya said NK was part of the axis of evil. And even today they would throw a hissy fit if anybody attacked NK. Liberals love socialists. It's a brotherhood.

Finally, it really isn't a problem the USA has to deal with. If NK has more than one nuke - and some way to get it to our shores - it would be destroyed in-flight. Now, other countries might have a problem. So let them fix it.

The UN has it all under control. Why worry?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

What's even more laughable is the fact that liberals were upset that Dubya said NK was part of the axis of evil. And even today they would throw a hissy fit if anybody attacked NK. Liberals love socialists. It's a brotherhood.

Knowing that a country is a problem is different than saying things to intentionally provoke them. I'd say Bush publicly calling them part of the axis of evil has contributed to where we are today.

[Spliffdaddy]

I give up, You ain't right in the head.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by goMac

Knowing that a country is a problem is different than saying things to intentionally provoke them. I'd say Bush publicly calling them part of the axis of evil has contributed to where we are today.

I'd say that it has brought the seriousness North Korean problem to the forefront of the discussion. All Clinton did was sweep the problem under the rug in the hopes that it wouldn't surface until after he is out of office.

[TheWOAT]

I believe Keith Olbermann will prove that North Korea never had any intentions of building a nuclear weapon UNTIL Bush was voted in office and gave his axis of evil speech....

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by TheWOAT

I believe Keith Olbermann will prove that North Korea never had any intentions of building a nuclear weapon UNTIL Bush was voted in office and gave his axis of evil speech....

That's a fantasy.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by smacintush

I'd say that it has brought the seriousness North Korean problem to the forefront of the discussion.

Except it didn't, because we called them part of the Axis of Evil and then we didn't do anything.

[TheWOAT]

Originally Posted by smacintush

That's a fantasy.

[TETENAL]

bump

[goMac]

Originally Posted by smacintush

I'd say that it has brought the seriousness North Korean problem to the forefront of the discussion. All Clinton did was sweep the problem under the rug in the hopes that it wouldn't surface until after he is out of office.

Clinton tried to handle the problem with diplomacy. Bush tried to solve the problem by invading Iraq. I'd say Clinton's approach made more sense.

[tie]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Maybe if we throw a bunch of money at them, they will stop.

How about we do absolutely nothing?

Oh wait, we already tried that. Didn't work.

But regardless, we must Stay the Course.