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The commander of U.S. Forces Korea warned Tuesday of a second nuclear test by North Korea, which he claimed could continue nuclear development to become a moderate nuclear power by 2010 if it goes unchecked. Speaking before a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Gen. Burwell Bell said, ¡°Unless the six-party talks process prevails, we expect North Korea to continue nuclear weapons research and development to perpetuate its strategy of intimidation.¡± He added Pyongyang ¡°may ultimately aim to develop nuclear armed missiles to threaten regional countries and even the U.S.¡±
Bell said North Korea has 50 kg of plutonium, enough to produce seven nuclear bombs. He also warned that the Stalinist country¡¯s record of selling missiles and arms could lead the regime to "proliferate nuclear weapons technology, expertise or material to anti-American countries, rogue regimes or non-state actors."
However, Bell expressed optimism that North Korea will abide by a Feb. 13 denuclearization agreement. He said the U.S. should give North Korea more time to find access to its assets at Macau¡¯s Banco Delta Asia since the isolated country is unfamiliar with the international financial system.
Meanwhile, speaking at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, former under secretary of state for arms control Robert Joseph, one of the North Korea hawks in the U.S. administration, argued that providing fuel and other aid to North Korea in return for the abandonment of its nuclear programs could prolong the life of the North Korean regime.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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