Nuclear facilities undetected in North Korea

Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 12:42 Monday, 22 November 2010 13:56

You'd think that the North Koreans would not be able to get away with much - not only are they an enemy of the United States, but as recently as last May, sunk a South Korean Navy ship. Their tinpot leaders are well known for regularly making statements about "mercilessly wiping them out" - the 'them' being America and South Korea.

Which makes it surprising that North Korea has nuclear enrichment facilities previously undetected by all the latest gizmo's the American military has at its deployment. Who has been asleep at the wheel?

Mr. Siegfried S. Hecker, an American scientist on a visit to North Korea (yeah, I know, what happened the sanctions?) said he visited a plant used to produce fuel for electricity-making reactors, but that the plant could be easily modified to produce fuel for nuclear weapons. Apparently, North Korea has over a thousand centrifuges, meaning the starving country could be close to a second source of weapons-grade nuclear material. The country already has a plutonium-based bomb. Mr. Hecker said he was "stunned" by what he saw.

You can find Mr. Hecker's summary report here.

The revelations prompted South Korea to say it might consider hosting American nuclear missiles on its territory once more. The U.S. removed its last tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991. Such a move would raise tension and paranoia in the region.

Yongbyon, North Korea Nuclear Facility, c. 2002

The big danger for America is not that North Korea might use the weapon, but that it could sell the technology to other countries - even illegal organisations.

South Korea to cut all ties with the North

Observers say North Korea might be attempting to gain leverage in stalled talks with China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States. Those talks might produce an aid for disarmament deal, but there are significant hurdles to overcome. North Korea's posturing in having its own (second) fuel for nuclear bombs would strengthen its hand at the table.