Defiant N. Korea Stokes Concern Over Nuclear Test (moved from ATSNN), page 1

Communist North Korea dashed hopes it would attend talks to end the nuclear standoff any time soon and stoked global concern that it could be on the verge of carrying out an atomic test. In typically ambiguous comments, North Korea neither confirmed nor denied whether a test was actually in the works.

story.news.yahoo.com
"The United States is fussing over whether or not to notify the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Japan and other related countries of its own suspicions that the DPRK may be preparing to conduct an underground nuclear test in June," said the Rodong Shinmun, the newspaper of North Korea's ruling communist party.

"We will go straight along the way we have chosen without any agitation regardless of whatever they say or what pressure they try to put on us," it said. "We are taking a bold stance: the United States may do whatever they want."

The Korean language commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency and published here by South Korea's Yonhap news agency, contained a personal attack against US President George W. Bush that was blunt even by North Korea's standards.

"Bush is the world's worst fascist dictator, a super-class war maniac and another Hitler, waving hands tainted with the blood of innocent people," it said.

Later, an official English language version of the newspaper commentary released by KCNA toned down the criticism of Bush and left out all reference to a possible nuclear test.

However, it froze hopes for a resumption of dialogue to end the standoff.

Six-party talks bringing together the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the United States on the North's nuclear programs have been in limbo since a third round of discussions last June.

"The DPRK (North Korea) does not expect any progress in improving US-DPRK relations, or settling the nuclear issues while he (Bush) remains in office," it said.

There is no agreement among experts on whether North Korea has the capacity or the desire to test a nuclear weapon. But some analysts believe dictator Kim Jong-Il sees nuclear weapons as the key to survival for his bankrupt Stalinist leadership.

Recent media reports from the United States have quoted US officials as saying North Korea has been preparing to launch an underground nuclear test since March and might conduct one as early as June.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Yesterday the U.S. seemed certain that North Korea would return to talks. Now They are acting defiant again. I dont know what is going to happen but something has to be done. Is it me or is North Korea Just trying to blackmail the international community?