N. Korea 'will win nuke war'
Monday, February 17, 2003 Posted: 4:11 AM EST (0911 GMT)
SEOUL, South Korea -- In another
verbal barrage aimed at
Washington, North Korea says it
will win any nuclear conflict with
the United States thanks to
Pyongyang's "army-first" political
system.
"Victory in a nuclear conflict will be ours
and the red flag of army-first politics will
flutter ever more vigorously," a North
Korean state radio broadcast said, as
reported by South Korea's Yonhap news
agency.
"Our victory is certain and the future ever
more radiant."
North Korea is the world's most heavily
militarized society, with a million-strong
army and a military budget expenditure of
over $5 billion annually -- equal to a little
over 30 percent of North Korea's gross
domestic product, according to CIA
figures.
But the Stalinist state has been besieged
by drought, famine and economic
difficulties in recent years, leading to
questions over the functionality of its
military might.
The latest vitriolic salvo follows a number
of war warnings from Pyongyang and
claims the U.S. is preparing to strike the
North.
The Bush administration has said it has
no plans for military action, but the
communist state has been pressing for
a non-aggression pact as well as direct
dialogue with the U.S.
The standoff over North Korea's nuclear
weapons program began in October
when the U.S. said Pyongyang admitted
to secretly pursuing plans to enrich
uranium, violating a 1994 agreement.
North Korea then dismissed weapons
inspectors, pulled out of the international
nuclear anti-proliferation treaty and
restarted its nuclear facilities.
Pyongyang insists it has plans only to
generate electricity due to an energy
shortfall brought on by the U.S. halting its
fuel oil supplies to North Korea.
The communist state also maintains that
its dispute is only with Washington and
needs to be solved with two-way,
face-to-face dialogue.
International diplomatic efforts to resolve
the crisis are continuing. The U.N. is now
set to take a more aggressive role after
its nuclear watchdog agency referred the
matter to the U.N. Security Council.
The Security Council has the power to
impose sanctions on North Korea --
something Pyongyang has said would mount to a declaration of war.
The U.S., however, wants to push the U.N. for a condemnation of Pyongyang, rather
than sanctions.
North Korea's traditional allies China and Russia – both permament members of
the council – are pressing for a diplomatic solution. (Peaceful solution sought)
In other developments, Britain's Sunday Telegraph has reported that North Korea
plans to build four new nuclear power plants.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has insisted nuclear weapons are not being
produced at its existing facilities and he would not use the new plants to do so
either, the report said. (Full story)
cnn.com
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