North Korea appears to be preparing to test a Nuclear Weapon

The indications keep coming in that North Korea is preparing for another milestone.  They pulled away from talks and are now signalling to their Chinese and US counterparts that they are not interested in coming back to the table for more talks.

It is difficult to parse the truth as events unfold in the media.  The Chinese, US and North Korean governments are all coming up short in the credibility department.  The only thing that seems to be generally agreed upon is that the North Koreans have less credibility and the least to lose if they carry out a nuclear test.

North Korea may be watching the example recently set by Hammas in Lebanon.  North Korea need only maintain the status quo of not resuming talks and not meeting the demands of the international community to declare a small victory.  The status quo for North Korea is a path that could leed them to developing the capability to produce a working nuclear weapon. 

News reports indicate that North Korea is likely to have produced enough weapons grade material for 6 nuclear bombs according to US Congressional estimates and that they may have the plutonium to create a total of 13 weapons if they start production again.

In addition it is report that Kim Jong Il may be travelling by train to China and that is train is reportedly near the Chinese border.  Chinese officials have reported that no visit is planned, however a visit might not be rebuked and a visit on North Korean territory might be a possibility as well.


Technorati Tags: North Korea, Nuclear Weapon, preparations