North Korea - An Unwelcome Member Of The Nuclear Club!

Data Extracted from the Telegraph - 09.10.06

If, as expected, North Korea's claims to have tested a nuclear weapon are proved true, it will have become the ninth country to possess nuclear arms. All nine keep the exact details of their weapons programmes secret, but analysts have been able to estimate the size of their nuclear arsenals

North Korea - Believed to have enough nuclear material for about half-a-dozen weapons, but estimates vary widely and are unverifiable.

The United States - More than 5,000 strategic warheads (powerful bombs to be fired long distances), and more than 1,000 operational tactical weapons (less powerful, and meant for more close-range battlefield use) Approximately 3,000 reserve warheads.

Russia - Nearly 5,000 strategic warheads, and approximately 3,500 operational tactical warheads. More than 11,000 other warheads in storage. Exploded its first bomb in 1949.
France Approximately 350 strategic warheads. Exploded its first bomb in 1960.

China - As many as 250 strategic warheads and 150 tactical warheads. Exploded its first bomb in 1964.

Britain - About 200 strategic warheads. Exploded its first bomb in 1952.

India - Between 45 and 95 nuclear warheads. Exploded its first bomb in 1974.

Pakistan - Between 30 and 50 nuclear warheads. Exploded its first bomb in 1998.

Israel - Refuses to confirm that it has nuclear weapons, but is generally assumed to have up to 200 nuclear warheads. Unknown when it may have carried out a test explosion.
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So what are the concerns for the world?
A top concern is the possibility of North Korea mounting bombs atop missiles aimed at Seoul, Tokyo or even parts of the United States.

The communist nation shocked the world in 1998 by firing a long-range ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean. But the country isn't believed to have a nuclear weapons design that would be small and light enough to be mounted atop a missile.

In July, North Korea test-launched seven missiles, but a long-range rocket believed capable of reaching American shores exploded shortly after liftoff.

HOW STRONG?
There were conflicting reports on the strength of the blast. A state-run South Korean geological institute said the force of the test was equivalent to 550 tons of TNT. That is relatively small compared to the bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima, which was equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT.

But Russia's defense minister said it was far more powerful, equivalent to 5,000 to 15,000 tons of TNT.

HISTORY
North Korea is believed to have been accumulating plutonium for a bomb since the mid-1980s. It froze the program in 1994 as part of an agreement with the United States. Since the breakdown of that agreement in late 2002, North Korea is believed to have ramped up production.

Some experts estimate that at least 80 percent of the country's stockpile of 44 to 116 pounds of refined plutonium was processed since the end of the freeze in 2002.

Without another agreement, North Korea is forecast to boost its stockpile to 160 pounds by 2008 — enough to build between eight and 17 bombs.

Taken from Yahoo News (Original Source: Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security)
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So what is going to be done?
Members of the 15-nation Security Council were unanimous in denouncing the claim.

"No one defended it, no one even came close to defending it," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said. "I was very impressed by the unanimity of the council ... on the need for a strong and swift answer to what everyone agreed amounted to a threat to international peace and security."

Bolton said Washington wants a resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter that goes beyond the limited sanctions adopted by the council in July after North Korea conducted seven missile tests. Britain also promised to push for sanctions in the face of the Pyongyang government's defiance.

Iranian state radio Monday blamed North Korea's reported nuclear test on U.S. pressure, accusing Washington of "humiliating" the impoverished communist country.

[ "Not only did the United States not lift the sanctions it had imposed on North Korea, it even increased the diplomatic pressure. Such pressure finally led North Korea to conduct its nuclear test," Iranian state radio said in a commentary.

"North Korea's nuclear test was a reaction to America's threats and humiliation," it said. Iran has said it will not abandon uranium enrichment despite the threat of international sanctions over its disputed nuclear program, which Tehran insists is purely for peaceful purposes to be used for nuclear energy.

Iranian state radio accused Washington of "double standards" in its policy on nuclear nonproliferation, pointing to its attitude toward Israel and India. India has tested a nuclear bomb and Israel is widely believed to possess such weapons, but the United States is not currently applying sanctions against them.

In an oblique message to the United Nations, which is considering taking steps against Iran's nuclear program, Iranian state radio said that the Security Council should not punish North Korea but disarm the nuclear arsenals of the great powers.

"Instead of imposing comprehensive sanctions on North Korea ... it would be better if the U.N. Security Council adopt a wise decision and seek full implementation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," it said.

"That is to say, it should seek to disarm the countries that currently possess nuclear weapons and provide conditions so that signatories to the treaty will be able to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," it said. ]

So, will economic & military sanctions work against North Korea?
The answer is no. There are two problems; firstly the North Korea is a poor country. It has relied on foreign aid to feed its 23 million people since it lost Soviet subsidies. If sanctions are placed against North Korea then it will mean that innocent people of the country will suffer the most. The second point is, now that they have the Nuclear weapons, they can negotiate with other countries better trading terms (as the last thing you want to do is upset a dictator that has his hand on the button). Negations are the next step not sanctions and certainly not the megaphone diplomacy that usually comes out of Washington and London.