WASHINGTON ? Heightened activity detected by spy satellites around a North Korean nuclear plant has American intelligence analysts in disagreement: Is the reclusive communist government rushing to produce nuclear weapons or just bluffing?
Throughout January, American spy satellites have detected covered trucks apparently taking on cargo at the nuclear storage facility at Yongbyon, where spent nuclear fuel rods are stored, U.S. officials said Friday on condition of anonymity. When processed, enough plutonium could be extracted from the rods to make four or five nuclear weapons. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has said there are 8,000 rods.
Immersed in planning for a possible war against Iraq, the United States has played down Korean developments of recent months.
There is a broadening consensus in the administration that North Korea is moving quickly down the path toward developing nuclear weapons, one senior defense official said. <
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.