Pyongyang claims to expand arsenal of atomic bombs
Pyongyang claims to expand arsenal of atomic bombs
08:07, November 04, 2009 
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Pyongyang said Tuesday that it has successfully weaponized more plutonium for atomic bombs, a day after warning Washington to agree quickly to direct talks or face the prospect of a growing nuclear arsenal, the Associated Press reported.
The announcement underlined Pyongyang's rising impatience over securing one-on-one talks with Washington, analysts say.
Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said D.P.R. K. had finished reprocessing 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods, which experts say would provide enough weapons-grade plutonium for at least one more nuclear bomb. Pyongyang is believed to already have enough weaponized plutonium for half a dozen nuclear weapons, according to the Associated Press report.
The timing of the announcement — a day after Pyongyang warned it would beef up its nuclear arsenal if Obama administration refused to agree on bilateral talks — shows Pyongyang is flexing its atomic muscle to push Washington to act quickly, analysts said.
Meanwhile, U.S. State Deparment spokesman Ian Kelly accused Pyongyang of violating its past commitments at international disarmament talks.
"Reprocessing plutonium is contrary to its own commitments" at those negotiations and violates United Nations resolutions, Kelly told reporters in Washington. He said the Obama administration was focused on trying to restart stalled six-nation nuclear talks.
Pyongyang has long sought direct nuclear negotiations with the U.S., believing that it is the easiest, fastest and surefire way of negotiation. On Monday, D.P.R.K’s Foreign Ministry warned that "if the U.S. is not ready to sit at a negotiating table, it will go its own way."
Pyongyang claims it needs atomic weapons to defend itself against the U.S., which fought against DPRK during the Korean War in the 1950s and has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to protect the ally.
The U.S. says it has no intention of attacking DPRK.
Pyongyang said Tuesday that it remains "compelled to take measures to bolster its deterrent for self-defense to cope with the increasing nuclear threat and military provocations of the hostile forces."
By People's Daily Online
The announcement underlined Pyongyang's rising impatience over securing one-on-one talks with Washington, analysts say.
Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said D.P.R. K. had finished reprocessing 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods, which experts say would provide enough weapons-grade plutonium for at least one more nuclear bomb. Pyongyang is believed to already have enough weaponized plutonium for half a dozen nuclear weapons, according to the Associated Press report.
The timing of the announcement — a day after Pyongyang warned it would beef up its nuclear arsenal if Obama administration refused to agree on bilateral talks — shows Pyongyang is flexing its atomic muscle to push Washington to act quickly, analysts said.
Meanwhile, U.S. State Deparment spokesman Ian Kelly accused Pyongyang of violating its past commitments at international disarmament talks.
"Reprocessing plutonium is contrary to its own commitments" at those negotiations and violates United Nations resolutions, Kelly told reporters in Washington. He said the Obama administration was focused on trying to restart stalled six-nation nuclear talks.
Pyongyang has long sought direct nuclear negotiations with the U.S., believing that it is the easiest, fastest and surefire way of negotiation. On Monday, D.P.R.K’s Foreign Ministry warned that "if the U.S. is not ready to sit at a negotiating table, it will go its own way."
Pyongyang claims it needs atomic weapons to defend itself against the U.S., which fought against DPRK during the Korean War in the 1950s and has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to protect the ally.
The U.S. says it has no intention of attacking DPRK.
Pyongyang said Tuesday that it remains "compelled to take measures to bolster its deterrent for self-defense to cope with the increasing nuclear threat and military provocations of the hostile forces."
By People's Daily Online
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