L'il Kim Needs Your Attention

North Korea is making noises once again that it is preparing another nuclear weapons test. US intel officials think that all the pieces are there to conduct another test.

North Korea appears to have made preparations for another nuclear test, according to U.S. defense officials.

"We think they've put everything in place to conduct a test without any notice or warning," a senior U.S. defense official told ABC News.

The official cautions that the intelligence is inconclusive as to whether North Korea will actually go ahead with another test but said the preparations are similar to the steps taken by Pyongyang before it shocked the world by conducting its first nuclear test last Oct. 9.

Two other senior defense officials confirmed that recent intelligence suggested that the North Koreans appear to be ready to test a nuclear weapon again, but the intelligence community divides over whether another test is likely.

There are still differences between experts whether they'll go ahead with a test. What was the world's response the last time? It was a quizzical look because the detonation didn't exactly match what would be considered a successful test of a full device. It might have been a fizzle. The net effect was that further attempts were either discouraged because the North was having technical difficulties or China was leaning heavily on them. There had been reports this past October that North Korea would again try three additional tests, but none occurred.

In the intervening time, L'il Kim must be thinking that he's not getting enough air time so that he's pushed ahead with his own nuclear plans once again. North Korea isn't getting any action at the bargaining table, so they figure that a little saber rattling might get the attention of the US and the Democrats in Congress.

Technorati: north korea, nuclear, kim jong il, six party talks, bush, DPRK.