WORLD NEWS NOW - ABC February 13, 2003
US / NORTH KOREA TENSIONS RECENT NORTH KOREAN ACTIONS ARE RAISING NEW CONCERNS FOR THE US
In-Depth Coverage
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JOHN MCWETHY, ABC NEWS
(Voice Over) This is a commercial satellite photograph taken at the end of January. It shows for the first time what has alarmed the world about North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear bomb making facilities. The plumes of steam from this plant show it is generating power for production of highly enriched plutonium, a key ingredient for making bombs. After years of being cold, the plant is again hot. But in a later satellite pass in early February, the same plant appears to be shut down again, no plumes of steam.
JOHN PIKE, DIRECTOR GLOBALSECURITY.ORG
The bad news is that it looks like the North Koreans are preparing to reprocess fuel to make atomic bombs. The good news is that it looks like that reprocessing plant was started briefly, and then turned back off.
JOHN MCWETHY
(Voice Over) For whatever reason, mechanical or political, North Korea does not appear, for the moment, to be plunging ahead. At a Senate hearing, there were concerns raised about North Korea's long-range missiles that would carry any nuclear weapon.
SENATOR EVAN BAYH, DEMOCRAT, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
What is the likelihood that they currently have a missile capable of hitting the West Coast of the United States?
GEORGE TENET, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR
We do, I think the declassified answer is yes, they can do that.
JOHN MCWETHY
(Voice Over) In fact, the CIA says in its public documents that one type of North Korea missile, not yet flight tested, could reach not just the West Coast, but all of United States.
graphics: NORTH KOREA BOMB MAP
JOHN MCWETHY
(Off Camera) The International Atomic Energy Agency has now declared North Korea in violation of its nuclear agreements, and voted to hand the case over to the UN Security Council for action. As for the Bush Administration, officials there say despite North Korea's blatant nuclear and missile potential, they'd like to handle this case diplomatically. John McWethy, ABC News, the Pentagon.
Copyright © 2003, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
