North Korea Nuke Test; The International 'Nuts And Bolts' In A Nutshell ...

Should anyone really be surprised that North Korea's now said publicly that it's planning to test a nuclear bomb?

Well, we'd say nobody should. Wouldn't you?

Here (via the BBC), is some of what the North Koreans have said themselves.

N Korea statement on nuclear test

This is a summarized version of a statement released by the foreign ministry of North Korea, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, announcing plans to test a nuclear weapon.

The US daily increasing threat of a nuclear war and its vicious sanctions and pressure have caused a grave situation on the Korean Peninsula in which the supreme interests and security of our State are seriously infringed upon and the Korean nation stands at the crossroads of life and death.

The US has become more frantic in its military exercises and arms build-up on the peninsula and in its vicinity for the purpose of launching the second Korean war since it made a de facto "declaration of war" against the DPRK through the recent brigandish adoption of a UN resolution.

At the same time it is making desperate efforts to internationalize the sanctions and blockade against the DPRK by leaving no dastardly means and methods untried in a foolish attempt to isolate and stifle it economically and bring down the socialist system chosen by its people themselves.

The present Bush administration has gone the lengths of making ultimatum that it would punish the DPRK if it refuses to yield to the US within the timetable set by it.

Under the present situation in which the US moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK have reached the worst phase, going beyond the extremity, the DPRK can no longer remain an on-looker to the developments.

The DPRK has already declared that it would take all necessary countermeasures to defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the nation from the Bush administration's vicious hostile actions.

You can read the rest of the statement summary right here.

And here you can see what the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia, France and the UK respectively have said in response.

Finally, you might find it furthers you education/understanding to learn here exactly how certain countries stand regarding their dealings with the extraordinarily inscrutable and super-secretive, North Korean state.

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