Report: N. Korean nuke test threat (CNN)

[IndianaGreen]

If N. Korea gets nukes, Bush won't be able to attack them without risking nuclear retaliation by Pyongyang.

Report: N. Korean nuke test threat
Saturday, July 26, 2003 Posted: 0507 GMT ( 1:07 PM HKT)


TOKYO, Japan -- North Korea is prepared to conduct a nuclear test unless the United States responds positively to its proposals for resolving a row over Pyongyang's weapons ambitions, Japanese and North Korean sources were quoted as saying by a Japanese newspaper on Saturday.

The Asahi Shimbun said this had been conveyed to U.S. envoy Jack Pritchard by a North Korean official in a secret meeting between officials from the two nations earlier this month.

Earlier this week, diplomatic sources in Tokyo told Reuters that the North was ready to declare itself a member of the nuclear club, opening the way for possible tests and increased production of weapons, unless the nuclear crisis is resolved by September 9 -- the anniversary of the communist nation's founding.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/07/24/us.nkorea/index.html