Hero of the North

Are you effing serious~!? Who the f*** does Kim Il Jong think he is. He thinks he's awesome and he has a legion of self-made myths about himself. Thats insane. And he dropped a nuke yesterday --- the world is going wild. This is super-scary, you can actually access the DPRK's official news site on the internet. I didn't even know they had internet.

DPRK Official Response:

"The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 (2006) at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great, prosperous, powerful socialist nation.
"It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under a scientific consideration and careful calculation.
"The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100%. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA (Korean People's Army) and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability.
"It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the area around it."

Korea Herald Article on yesterdays events. A sane review.

United States President - George W. Bush:

"The United States condemns this provocative act. Once again, North Korea has defied the will of the international community and the international community will respond...
"The transfer of nuclear weapons or materiel by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States...
"Today's claim by North Korea serves only to raise tensions while depriving the North Korean people of the increased prosperity and better relations with the world offered by the implementation of the joint statement of the six-party talks. The oppressed and impoverished people of North Korea deserve that brighter future."

South Korean President - Roh Moo Hyun:

"It raises a serious threat to peace, not only for the Korean peninsula, but for the region ... In the long run, this is a dangerous play that could spark a nuclear arms build-up in other countries."

Russian President - Vladimir Putin (Judo Champion):

"Russia definitely condemns the test in North Korea, and it is not Korea itself that counts, but the huge damage that was caused to the process of non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons all over the world."

(quotes from BBC)

My good friend (South Korean) has always gotten angry when I tried to talk about N.Korea and its politics. He was adamantly and extremely hostile whenever the topic was breached. His father and his sister both did and currently serve in the U.S. Army but they're from Seoul. He'd always indicate with vehemence, "North Koreans are crazy." Which I never accepted as a true statement until today.

Its a very calculated move. There area a lot of things going on that think tanks are probably eating up today. A new Japanese Prime Minister is in S. Korea right now, the new U.N. Chief was to be nominated today, a South Korean, and China was just visited in diplomatic talks the day before. Very very well timed on the Dear Leader's part.