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North Korea Threatens to Test Nukes
Aired August 28, 2003 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to CNN -- North Korea vowing to formally declare nuclear weapons and to test them. Andrea Koppel from the State Department now with more on this, right after the talks -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. These statements, according to two administration officials, were made during the six-party talks that are now in their second day in Beijing.
One administration official told CNN that initially the North Koreans told James Kelly, the U.S. envoy to the talks, last night when they had separate meetings that North Korea would declare themselves a nuclear nation and was contemplating testing their nuclear weapons. And also saying that they would show that they have the means to deliver them.
Now, the way that's being interpreted here is that North Korea's also known to have a ballistic missile program and that they would demonstrate they have missiles, by testing them again. They've had a moratorium in place for about the last five years, since 1998.
Now, the question is, North Korea is known around the world for its belligerence, for its brinksmanship, it's known for conducting meetings and talks at a decibel level that would break glass. So the question is whether or not this is just more bluster, or whether or not in fact the North Koreans do, in fact, intend to declare themselves a nuclear nation.
We've known since last October that North Korea has nuclear weapons. They've admitted to having a second secret nuclear weapon program. And that's what these talks are all about, Kyra. They're trying, these five countries, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Russia and China, are trying to convince North Korea not just to freeze that nuclear program, but to verifiably and irreversibly dismantle it.
So we need to kind of put this in context. North Korea is known for its bluster, and also its nuclear program is really the equivalent of an Aetna or a Prudential life insurance program. They have absolutely nothing else. They're one of the world's poorest, most isolated countries. And having this nuclear program, they believe, is their ticket, their life insurance policy, to secure the regime's survival.
So obviously this is alarming, this is concerning, but it remains to be seen whether or not, in fact, the North Koreans are doing this just to scare people, or whether or not, in fact, they really intend to go ahead and do this -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well it's definitely got people talking. Andrea Koppel from the State Department. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 28, 2003 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to CNN -- North Korea vowing to formally declare nuclear weapons and to test them. Andrea Koppel from the State Department now with more on this, right after the talks -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. These statements, according to two administration officials, were made during the six-party talks that are now in their second day in Beijing.
One administration official told CNN that initially the North Koreans told James Kelly, the U.S. envoy to the talks, last night when they had separate meetings that North Korea would declare themselves a nuclear nation and was contemplating testing their nuclear weapons. And also saying that they would show that they have the means to deliver them.
Now, the way that's being interpreted here is that North Korea's also known to have a ballistic missile program and that they would demonstrate they have missiles, by testing them again. They've had a moratorium in place for about the last five years, since 1998.
Now, the question is, North Korea is known around the world for its belligerence, for its brinksmanship, it's known for conducting meetings and talks at a decibel level that would break glass. So the question is whether or not this is just more bluster, or whether or not in fact the North Koreans do, in fact, intend to declare themselves a nuclear nation.
We've known since last October that North Korea has nuclear weapons. They've admitted to having a second secret nuclear weapon program. And that's what these talks are all about, Kyra. They're trying, these five countries, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Russia and China, are trying to convince North Korea not just to freeze that nuclear program, but to verifiably and irreversibly dismantle it.
So we need to kind of put this in context. North Korea is known for its bluster, and also its nuclear program is really the equivalent of an Aetna or a Prudential life insurance program. They have absolutely nothing else. They're one of the world's poorest, most isolated countries. And having this nuclear program, they believe, is their ticket, their life insurance policy, to secure the regime's survival.
So obviously this is alarming, this is concerning, but it remains to be seen whether or not, in fact, the North Koreans are doing this just to scare people, or whether or not, in fact, they really intend to go ahead and do this -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well it's definitely got people talking. Andrea Koppel from the State Department. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
