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NUKEWARS
N. Korea ready for atomic test any time: S. Korea
by Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) April 19, 2011


S. Korea man convicted of retweeting N. Korea messages
Seoul (AFP) April 19, 2011 - A South Korean man received a suspended jail term Tuesday for retweeting messages from North Korea's official website in the first such case since the communist state launched a cyber propaganda campaign. The Seoul Central District Court said it had handed the 55-year-old man identified only as Cho a two-year jail sentence, suspended for three years, for violating South Korea's security law. The man was convicted of retweeting material from the North's Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/uriminzok) to about 3,000 followers last year, it said.

The North made its first foray into Twitter last August, using the account to link to stinging statements criticising the South and the United States on its website. It also opened an account on YouTube as it ramped up online propaganda efforts. In February, the newspaper of North Korea's ruling party, Rodong Sinmun, launched its own website. Choz argued he had just been passing on news about North Korea, but the court ruled his behaviour could pose a threat to South Korea's national interest and security. Seoul strictly prohibits the distribution of publications praising Pyongyang. The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict. Pyongyang meanwhile tightly limits its own people's access to outside information.

North Korea is ready to conduct another nuclear test if its current approaches for dialogue fail although there are no current signs of preparations, South Korea's spy chief said Tuesday.

"Another atomic test is always possible as (North Korea) has various nuclear test sites and construction of (new) sites is under way," National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-Hoon was quoted as telling a parliamentary intelligence committee.

Won's comments to the closed-door session were quoted by ruling party lawmaker Hwang Jin-Ha.

North Korea conducted its first two nuclear tests in October 2006 and May 2009.

The South's Yonhap news agency reported in February that the North was digging at least two new tunnels at its nuclear test site in apparent preparation for a third atomic detonation.

"I believe North Korea will use military action such as nuclear and missile (tests) to turn the tables if its current tack of dialogue fails," Won said.

Multinational talks on ending the North's nuclear programmes in return for diplomatic and economic benefits have been stalled since December 2008.

Pyongyang has expressed interest in restarting them. But Seoul and Washington say it should first show it is serious about disarmament and mend cross-border ties.

The North fuelled regional security fears last November by disclosing an apparently functional uranium enrichment plant, which could give it a second way to make atomic bombs in addition to its plutonium stockpile.

Lawmaker Hwang said Won expressed concern over the safety of the North's ageing nuclear facilities at Yongbyon.

"They appear to be inferior, but we cannot say exactly which part is weak. So we're paying attention to this problem," the spy chief was quoted as saying.

Regarding the uranium enrichment plant, South Korean officials have questioned whether Pyongyang can build a facility that meets international safety standards.

Yongbyon for decades has been at the heart of the North's drive for nuclear weapons, with a gas graphite reactor there having produced enough plutonium for possibly six to eight bombs.

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NUKEWARS
S. Korean actor assigned to frontline Marine duty
Seoul (AFP) April 18, 2011
A popular South Korean television actor who joined the Marines for his mandatory military service was Monday ordered to serve on a frontline island near the contested sea border. Hyun Bin, 29, joined the force last month and will be based on Baengnyeong island after completing six weeks of basic training this week, the Marines said in a statement. The actor has starred in hit television ... read more


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