April 23, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Diplomacy: Washington Post: Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill, flew to the region yesterday to consult over the weekend with officials in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul about the signs that that North Korea may be preparing its first test of a nuclear weapon

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Library: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Diplomacy: Archive of Stories: April 12, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Diplomacy: COS - Korea: LA Times: Christopher Hill, soon to be assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs, says long-stalled talks on nuclear arms can work : April 23, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Diplomacy: Washington Post: Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill, flew to the region yesterday to consult over the weekend with officials in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul about the signs that that North Korea may be preparing its first test of a nuclear weapon

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-181-108.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.181.108) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 3:50 pm: Edit Post

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill, flew to the region yesterday to consult over the weekend with officials in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul about the signs that that North Korea may be preparing its first test of a nuclear weapon

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill, flew to the region yesterday to consult over the weekend with officials in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul about the signs that that North Korea may be preparing its first test of a nuclear weapon

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill, flew to the region yesterday to consult over the weekend with officials in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul about the signs that that North Korea may be preparing its first test of a nuclear weapon

Signs Stir Concern North Korea Might Test Nuclear Bomb
Diplomat in Asia to Confer With Officials

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 23, 2005; Page A13

U.S. officials are increasingly concerned that North Korea may be preparing its first test of a nuclear weapon, though they warn that the information is sketchy and not definitive.

A top U.S. diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill, flew to the region yesterday to consult over the weekend with officials in Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul about the signs that a test may be in the works. Officials especially want China, North Korea's main patron, to use its leverage with Pyongyang to stop it from conducting a test.

Since withdrawing from nuclear disarmament talks two months ago, Pyongyang has declared that it has nuclear weapons and has made increasingly provocative announcements. Recently, it said it would strengthen its nuclear arsenal, citing the need to counter what it called hostile U.S. policy.

One U.S. official said the concern about Pyongyang's intentions was heightened by signs of increased activity at missile sites and other places that could be used for underground tests. U.S. spy satellites observed the activity, but it is extremely difficult to interpret, as the mistakes regarding alleged weapons of mass destruction in Iraq demonstrated.

"We see these things," he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was discussing intelligence matters. "But much of what we see is open to interpretation."

The Wall Street Journal first reported yesterday in its online edition that North Korea may be preparing a test, sending stocks tumbling and oil prices soaring.

North Korea also shut down its nuclear facility at Yongbyon about 10 days ago, indicating that it may be preparing to remove nuclear-fuel rods so the weapons-grade plutonium inside the rods can be extracted. U.S. intelligence analysts believe that North Korea reprocessed enough plutonium two years ago for as many as half a dozen weapons.

But there is a strong debate within the administration about whether North Korea would actually detonate a nuclear bomb. Since the impasse over North Korea's nuclear ambitions began in 2002, China has been able to maintain that there is no definitive proof that North Korea has such weapons. A test would shatter that diplomatic ambiguity and make it more difficult for China to block sanctions at the United Nations.

"It would take them off the edge," another U.S. official said.

But other officials believe North Korea has concluded that a nuclear test would be the only way to convince the world that it has joined the nuclear club. Although many nations would condemn the test, North Korea may have concluded that the consequences would eventually fade away. The administration, for instance, recently decided to restart F-16 fighter-jet sales to Pakistan, which were suspended 15 years ago because of that country's illicit nuclear activities.

U.S. analysts had previously detected signs of a possible test, but none has occurred. North Korea is known to enjoy putting on a show for U.S. spy satellites. Two years ago, Pyongyang laid out missiles near a parade route so they could be seen by satellites, but it did not display them publicly during the parade to avoid riling diplomatic sensitivities.





When this story was posted in April 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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The Peace Corps Library Date: March 27 2005 No: 536 The Peace Corps Library
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April 17, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: April 18 2005 No: 556 April 17, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
The Coyne Column: A Peace Corps Writer Discovery 17 Apr
Chris Van Hollen supports Peace Corps budget 17 Apr
Joseph Goldstein founded Forest Refuge 17 Apr
Judge Flemming Norcott wins community service award 16 Apr
Wangari Maathai meets with Kenya Country Director 15 Apr
Simon James says corps' days numbered in Uzbekistan 15 Apr
Peace Corps not heard anything about Uzbekistan 15 Apr
Novak says Chris Dodd attacking anti-Castro officials 14 Apr
Taylor Hackford not pleased with content editing 14 Apr
Activist W. Retta Gilliam dies in DC 13 Apr
Alberto Ibargüen studying newspaper options 13 Apr
Christopher Hill says Korea nuclear talks can work 12 Apr
DNA undercuts verdict against Jerry Marks 11 Apr
Tom Bissell discusses recent events in Kyrgyzstan 11 Apr
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April 17, 2005: Special RPCV Events Date: April 18 2005 No: 558 April 17, 2005: Special RPCV Events
RPCV Kent Island Family Weekend on May 6 - 8
Joseph Opala speaks in Rhode Island on April 19
South Carolina RPCVs to see off PCVs on April 18
Terry Deshler speaks in Wyoming on April 18
Cameroon RPCVs selling special Pagne
Bush proclaims National Volunteer Week
RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

RPCVs and Friends remember Pope John Paul II Date: April 3 2005 No: 550 RPCVs and Friends remember Pope John Paul II
Tony Hall found the pope to be courageous and capable of forgiving the man who shot him in 1981, Mark Gearan said the pope was as dynamic in person as he appears on television, Maria Shriver said he was a beacon of virtue, strength and goodness, and an RPCV who met the pope while serving in the Solomon Islands said he possessed the holiness of a man filled with a deep love and concern for humanity. Leave your thoughts here.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.


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Story Source: Washington Post

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Cameroon; Diplomacy

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