Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
The Almighty
New member
N. Korea restarts nuke reactor
By David Ensor, CNN National Security Correspondent
Wednesday, February 26, 2003 Posted: 9:26 PM EST (0226 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States says North Korea has reactivated its five-megawatt nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, a sign Pyongyang is going ahead with its nuclear weapons program.
The U.S. warning comes a day after Secretary of State Colin Powell returned from a three-country tour of Asia where he discussed the North Korea nuclear issue, saying Pyongyang had been "wise" to not restart the reactor.
U.S. officials told CNN Wednesday they were not aware of the reactivation before Powell made his statement.
The news also comes as North Korea issued a warning to its military and citizens to prepare themselves for a large-scale attack by the United States that could include a pre-emptive nuclear strike. (Full story)
"This is a step that only deepens North Korea's isolation from the rest of the world," White House national security spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"It wasn't unexpected given their recent actions. But we seek a peaceful solution to this and we're working with other states for a multilateral solution."
New South Korean Prime Minister Goh Moo-hyun said Thursday his government would investigate the details of the revelation as soon as his new cabinet was sworn into office.
"North Korea's nuclear development program poses a serious threat to world peace," Goh told a media conference.
"The new government will make an all-out effort to solve the nuclear issue in a peaceful manner," Reuters reports Goh saying.
The United States says that, in about a year, North Korea could begin reprocessing spent fuel from the nuclear reactor to make a nuclear bomb.
At the same time, administration officials say there is no evidence that North Korea has begun reprocessing spent fuel rods it already has at a separate facility, an action that would allow it to make bomb material much sooner and one the United States would view as an even more serious matter.
The reactor decision by North Korea adds another element to the continuing build-up of pressure on the Korean peninsula.
On Wednesday Pyongyang cited upcoming U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises scheduled to begin on March 4 as "reckless war moves" designed to "unleash a total war on the Korean peninsula with a pre-emptive nuclear strike."
"The situation of the Korean Peninsula is reaching the brink of a nuclear war," a statement, issued by the official Korean Central News Agency, said.
The United States denies it has any plans to attack North Korea, consistently saying it is seeking a diplomatic and political solution to the increasing tensions.
While in Asia, Powell lobbied leaders of Japan, China and South Korea to support a multi-lateral approach to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Powell repeated the U.S. position that it had no intention of invading North Korea and had no plans to impose fresh economic sanctions on the impoverished communist nation.
While Japan and South Korea indicated they might support a regional initiative to sway Pyongyang, China -- a key ally and aid donor to the North -- appeared to remain unconvinced.
China says the United States must deal with Pyongyang equally on a one-to-one basis.
Missile launch
"We believe diplomatic, political pressure still has a role to play. And there are countries who have considerable influence with the North Koreans who will continue to apply pressure," Powell said Tuesday.
"We also made it clear that if they begin reprocessing (nuclear material), it changes the entire political landscape. And we're making sure that is communicated to them in a number of channels."
Powell would not be drawn on how would Washington react if Pyongyang did begin reprocessing but did say that the U.S. had "no intention of invading" North Korea.
On Monday, the North fired a short-range missile into the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, an act many believe was designed to upstage the inauguration of new South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. (Roh sworn in)
Last week, a North Korean MiG-19 fighter briefly flew into South Korean air space. (MiG incursion)
The North has also threatened to abandon the 1953 armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War and accused Washington of flying a spy plane into North Korean airspace.
The flight was a "premeditated move to find an opportunity to mount a preemptive attack," North Korea said. ('Spy' flights)
By David Ensor, CNN National Security Correspondent
Wednesday, February 26, 2003 Posted: 9:26 PM EST (0226 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States says North Korea has reactivated its five-megawatt nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, a sign Pyongyang is going ahead with its nuclear weapons program.
The U.S. warning comes a day after Secretary of State Colin Powell returned from a three-country tour of Asia where he discussed the North Korea nuclear issue, saying Pyongyang had been "wise" to not restart the reactor.
U.S. officials told CNN Wednesday they were not aware of the reactivation before Powell made his statement.
The news also comes as North Korea issued a warning to its military and citizens to prepare themselves for a large-scale attack by the United States that could include a pre-emptive nuclear strike. (Full story)
"This is a step that only deepens North Korea's isolation from the rest of the world," White House national security spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"It wasn't unexpected given their recent actions. But we seek a peaceful solution to this and we're working with other states for a multilateral solution."
New South Korean Prime Minister Goh Moo-hyun said Thursday his government would investigate the details of the revelation as soon as his new cabinet was sworn into office.
"North Korea's nuclear development program poses a serious threat to world peace," Goh told a media conference.
"The new government will make an all-out effort to solve the nuclear issue in a peaceful manner," Reuters reports Goh saying.
The United States says that, in about a year, North Korea could begin reprocessing spent fuel from the nuclear reactor to make a nuclear bomb.
At the same time, administration officials say there is no evidence that North Korea has begun reprocessing spent fuel rods it already has at a separate facility, an action that would allow it to make bomb material much sooner and one the United States would view as an even more serious matter.
The reactor decision by North Korea adds another element to the continuing build-up of pressure on the Korean peninsula.
On Wednesday Pyongyang cited upcoming U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises scheduled to begin on March 4 as "reckless war moves" designed to "unleash a total war on the Korean peninsula with a pre-emptive nuclear strike."
"The situation of the Korean Peninsula is reaching the brink of a nuclear war," a statement, issued by the official Korean Central News Agency, said.
The United States denies it has any plans to attack North Korea, consistently saying it is seeking a diplomatic and political solution to the increasing tensions.
While in Asia, Powell lobbied leaders of Japan, China and South Korea to support a multi-lateral approach to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Powell repeated the U.S. position that it had no intention of invading North Korea and had no plans to impose fresh economic sanctions on the impoverished communist nation.
While Japan and South Korea indicated they might support a regional initiative to sway Pyongyang, China -- a key ally and aid donor to the North -- appeared to remain unconvinced.
China says the United States must deal with Pyongyang equally on a one-to-one basis.
Missile launch
"We believe diplomatic, political pressure still has a role to play. And there are countries who have considerable influence with the North Koreans who will continue to apply pressure," Powell said Tuesday.
"We also made it clear that if they begin reprocessing (nuclear material), it changes the entire political landscape. And we're making sure that is communicated to them in a number of channels."
Powell would not be drawn on how would Washington react if Pyongyang did begin reprocessing but did say that the U.S. had "no intention of invading" North Korea.
On Monday, the North fired a short-range missile into the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, an act many believe was designed to upstage the inauguration of new South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. (Roh sworn in)
Last week, a North Korean MiG-19 fighter briefly flew into South Korean air space. (MiG incursion)
The North has also threatened to abandon the 1953 armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War and accused Washington of flying a spy plane into North Korean airspace.
The flight was a "premeditated move to find an opportunity to mount a preemptive attack," North Korea said. ('Spy' flights)
