North Korea makes new nuclear claims
South Korean veterans burn a North Korean flag during an anti-North Korea rally in downtown Seoul on November 30, 2010 denouncing North Korea's November 23 attack on Yeonpyeong island. South Korea deployed rocket launchers and extra artillery on a frontline border island bombarded last week by North Korea, as Seoul's leader vowed on November 29 to make Pyongyang pay for any fresh provocations. AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE
What you need to know:
- Claims of advanced operations at secret installations amid tension at border
SEOUL, Tuesday
North Korea boasted today of running “thousands” of nuclear centrifuges, a week after launching a deadly artillery attack on South Korea, as China pressed for six-nation crisis talks.
State media in the North, which has already tested two atomic bombs made from plutonium, said “many thousands of centrifuges” are operating to enrich uranium at a new plant which it claims is for peaceful energy purposes.
The country first disclosed the new plant to US experts less than two weeks before its artillery assault, which killed two civilians and two marines on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong island near the disputed Yellow Sea border.
Experts and senior US officials fear the plant could easily be configured to make weapons-grade uranium.
Analysts say the nuclear revelation and artillery attack appeared coordinated to pressure Washington and Seoul into resuming dialogue and aid, and possibly to bolster the credentials of leader-in-waiting Kim Jong-Un.
For a third day, the US and South Korean navies staged war games far south of the border involving 11 ships, air power and 7,300 personnel.
South Korea is separately strengthening artillery and troop numbers on frontline islands near the tense frontier.
The North’s state media blasted the naval drill, calling it provocative and warmongering.
“We have full deterrence to destroy our enemies at once,” said cabinet newspaper Minju Chosun. “If the US and South Korean enemies dare to fire one shell in our territory and sea territory, they will have to pay for it.” (AFP)
