Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

North Korea Admits to Having Nuclear Weapons

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the we-knew-that-anyway dept.

steelvadi writes "North Korea has now admitted to possessing nuclear weapons. Government officials there claimed that they are needed as defense from an increasingly hostile attitude from Washington. It was also stated that N. Korea will not be reentering negotiations on disarmament for the foreseeable future. "

3 of 2,056 comments (clear)

  1. don't worry by e**(i+pi)-1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We don't worry about the N. Korea nukes: CNN has
    this morning already moved to a more relevant story:
    "Prince Charles to marry Camilla Parker Bowles".

  2. I wonder if Kim Jong-Il is dead? by Malor · · Score: 5, Interesting
    You know, a thought occurred to me the other day. Remember that huge explosion in NK last year? Some sources have claimed that it was a failed assassination attempt. Since that time, as far as I know, we haven't seen ANYTHING of KJI. There have been multiple signs of his hold on power weakening, like portraits being taken down for awhile. Further, his 'appearances' have been video-only, wearing clothes that are at least two years old.

    So what if he's dead, killed in that explosion, and they've been covering it up? NK is exactly the kind of place to try to do something like that.

    Just a thought....

    1. Re:I wonder if Kim Jong-Il is dead? by madaxe42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Kim Jong-Il has always been dead. We have always been at war with EastAsia....

      In all seriousness, it doesn't matter if KJI is dead or not - the North Korean regime is here to stay - no amount of military force will change that - it is *far* too deeply ingrained in the majority of the populace there. Having visited NK some years ago on a tourist visa (which is like gold dust) I was, I must confess, rather surprised by what I found. Generally, in urban areas, the quality of life was good - party members lived comfortably, others less comfortably, but a lot better than much of what you'll see in the western world. We weren't allowed into the countryside, however, so.....

      Short of a popular revolution, which isn't going to happen, nothing will change the situation there. It's perfectly possible that they have a nuclear capability, but they aren't quite the mad-cap nation the western media seems to wish to portray them as.

      The degree of control held over the populace by the state there is astounding - it would be extraordinarily hard for anyone to organise any kind of dissent - the vast majority are party supporters, and the last thing you want to do is criticise the government in front of someone who can make you disappear.

      Juche is their way of life. They have no real wish to expand, they just want to be left alone. For now, at any rate.