President Bush reacted to North Korea's nuclear test with strong words, but the nation is not putting up mushroom clouds, and an examination of history illuminates North Korea's fear of the U.S. as a nuclear power and threat.
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - I don't know if I consider myself fortunate to have once witnesses a sub critical nuclear test. There is a certain feeling that goes with this type of work, as I learned one day while reporting news for the Las Vegas NBC station.
In reality nobody actually "witnesses" a sub critical nuclear test because "sub critical" means that the action is happening hundreds of feet below the ground and the effects do not manifest at the top.
The sub critical test I was present for was held at the Nevada Test Site, the broad expanse of Nevada desert that also contains the government's top-secret site at Groom Lake or "Area-51." This test in early 1997 was the first since 1985, when a nuclear test ban treat was enacted.
Sub critical testing may take place out of site, but officials in Nevada have learned that testing nukes underground can lead to the radioactive contamination of water tables in places like nearby Beatty.
President Bush made a statement about North Korea's announcement of an upcoming nuclear test last night, after the government of North Korea proclaimed to the world that it had conducted a nuclear test. and has more in the works. Bush says they're working to confirm North Korea's claim.
"Nonetheless, such a claim itself constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The United States condemns this provocative act. Once again North Korea has defied the will of the international community, and the international community will respond."
I don't know how many people remember what relations were like with North Korea before Bush took office and quickly called North Korea into the light as an "evil" nation.
In truth, relations with the Communist country were at an all time high point, and talks were continuing under President Clinton.
Now, with U.S. troops stretched tightly along the various battle fronts in the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and tired, Bush calls the actions of North Korea unacceptable and he claims they deserve an immediate response by the United Nations Security Council.
"The North Korean regime remains one of the world's leading proliferator of missile technology, including transfers to Iran and Syria. The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable of the consequences of such action."
Young people of today might not be in touch with the term "cold war" but millions of us who lived and even served during those years remember them well. These were years of massive nuclear build-up and fears of a world war between the Soviet Union and China, and the western powers like the United States and England, were constant.
Bush says the United States remains committed to diplomacy, but will continue to protect national interests. "I reaffirmed to our allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan, that the United States will meet the full range of our deterrent and security commitments."
North Korea has been at war with the United States technically, since the Korean War in the early 1950's. Experts say that the Communist nation of 23 million people has constantly feared a takeover by the U.S. As an unprovoked war in Iraq continues to draw American resources, energies and lives, the U.S. president gives signs that other wars, even on the Korean Peninsula, are possible.
Kim Il-sung was the founder of North Korea who died in 1994. The Communist leader emerged from the Korean War determined to equal the power of the United States. He also knew that Gen. Douglas MacArthur had asked for nuclear weapons to used against his country.
Bush says North Korea's threats will not lead to a brighter future for the North Korean people, "nor weaken the resolve of the United States and our allies to achieve the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Today's claim by North Korea serves only to raise tensions, while depriving the North Korean people of the increased prosperity and better relations with the world offered by the implementation of the joint statement of the six-party talks. The oppressed and impoverished people of North Korea deserve that brighter future."
Bush Calls North Korea Nuclear Test a Global ThreatSalem-News.com