Via ABC News: There is new evidence that North Korea may be preparing for an underground test of a nuclear bomb, U.S. officials told ABC News. "It is the view of the intelligence community that a test is a real possibility," said a senior State Department official. A senior military official told ABC News that a U.S. intelligence agency has recently observed "suspicious vehicle movement" at a suspected North Korean test site. The activity includes the unloading of large reels of cable outside P'unggye-yok, an underground facility in northeast North Korea. Cables can be used in nuclear testing to connect an underground test site to outside observation equipment. The intelligence was brought to the attention of the White House last week.
And it's having an effect on the markets according to Bloomberg: The yen approached a record low against the euro on reports North Korea may be preparing an underground test for a nuclear bomb. "Security concern over North Korea's possible nuclear test prompted yen-selling," said Yuji Saito, a senior currency dealer in Tokyo at Societe Generale SA. "If tensions continue, this will push down the yen further." "It is the view of the intelligence community that a test is a real possibility," ABC quoted a senior State Department official as saying.
However, NIS is playing it down: South Korea said Friday it has no clear evidence that communist North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test, responding to a news report citing a U.S. official saying intelligence showed possible signs of an upcoming test. "I haven't heard that we have confirmed clear evidence that North Korea is pursuing a nuclear test," Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok told lawmakers at a committee hearing.
Or is it? The United States and South Korea "share all intelligence and evaluations" related to North Korean movements, Lee told The Associated Press. "We cannot specifically confirm the report as it is an intelligence matter," a spokesman said on condition of anonymity, citing policy.
And then, there is always Tuesday. But don't take anything too seriously, otherwise you will be stuck making awkward jokes where the punch-lines all have something to do with the end of history and global ideological insanity. |