freeandfun1
VIP Member
- Feb 14, 2004
- 6,201
- 296
- 83
Great!
Fri Apr 22 2005 1638 ET
The U.S. has quietly warned China that North Korea could be preparing for a nuclear-weapons test and asked the Chinese to urge Pyongyang to desist, according to a U.S. official.
In what the U.S. official characterized as an "emergency demarche," or diplomatic communication, delivered to Beijing Thursday, Washington said that, in light of recent North Korean words and actions, a test could be in the works.
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reported Friday evening: The demarche also says that the U.S. believes the North Korean nuclear program is advanced enough that a test could come with little or no warning.
Another official said the U.S. test fears also were being conveyed to South Korea and Japan, in addition to Beijing. Christopher Hill, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, is scheduled to visit all three countries next week.
In addition, the U.S. official said that spy satellites have observed heightened activity at missile sites as well as "at various suspect sites" in North Korea where it is believed underground tests could be carried out. But the official acknowledged that it is difficult to divine the true intent of that activity.
Developing...
from http://www.drudgereport.com/flash.htm
