South Korea: North Korea may be trying to develop small nuclear warhead to fit on missile

[susanbanks44]

Source: Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ A top South Korean military officer said Wednesday that he believes North Korea is trying to develop a nuclear warhead that is small enough to be carried by its missiles.

North Korea is believed to have enough plutonium to produce about half a dozen bombs, but it is not believed to have mastered the technology needed to fit a nuclear weapon on a missile. The communist nation conducted an underground nuclear test in 2006, and its long-range missiles may be able to reach as far as the West Coast of the United States.

Gen. Kim Tae-young, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a parliamentary committee that he believes "North Korea has been pushing to develop a small warhead to be mounted on a missile," according to the general's office.

Kim said it was not clear whether the North had already manufactured such a warhead.

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-as-nkorea-nuclear-warhead,0,3391140.story

[shadowknows69]

1. Stellar job in keeping nukes out of the hands of this "Axis of evil" member Bush

Sometimes I think this was the real reason for the distraction of the Iraq war. Bush knew he couldn't do shit about N. Korea getting nukes so he "heroicly" stopped Saddam before he could make one.

[endthewar]

2. Needless fear-mongering

They already have a nuclear bomb. Their long-range missile tests have not been too successful over the past few years. People need to realize that nuclear weapons are a defensive weapon, not an offensive weapon. Countries develop them to discourage other countries from attacking them. Also, it serves no purpose to develop nuclear weapons in secret. They have their greatest effect when you tell other people that you have them.

[Nambe]

3. That is archaic nuclear technology. NC is trying to scare somebody.