Russia admits Iranian, North Korean Nuclear threat (Putin, enemy, weapons)

[GTOlover]

Moscow, April 24 (IANS) Russia's military leadership has for the first time acknowledged a nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea.

"The threat is always there, so we closely monitor the nuclear programme developments of many countries," Army General Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the General Staff, told RT television.

"The analysis that we conducted together with the Americans confirms that, yes, there is a probability that the threat exists. And we agreed that it is necessary to create a missile defence system," Makarov said.

The Russian Defence Ministry previously held that there was no nuclear threat to Europe and Russia from Iran and North Korea because they did not have the capacity to build nuclear weapons or deliver them.

"Many countries that claim not to possess nuclear weapons do in fact have them," Makarov said.

"Certainly, if it gets into the hands of extremists, it represents a threat to international security," Makarov said.

He added that in order to counter these threats, Russia is ready to work together with other countries.

North Korea has conducted two underground nuclear weapon tests, in 2006 and 2009.

The US and other western countries suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy programme. Tehran denies the charges, saying its nuclear programme is aimed at meeting the country's electricity needs.

In April, South Korean media reported that intelligence indicated North Korea was preparing a third in a row underground nuclear test. The information was based on satellite photographs of North Korean test site, where underground nuclear test had been previously conducted.
source: Russia admits Iranian, North Korean n-threat - Yahoo! News India

Well it will be nice to work with Russia on this and if there ha to be a face to face metting with that 20 something kim jung-Un and have Putin stare him down would help get any agreements we want on NK nuclear arms Reduction.

Putin is one world leader that is serious not to be messed with type of person while we here in the west come off too nice sometimes and it makes us look weak and we get used by every country for something ot other.

Maybe this could turn into a new U.S./NATO-Russia Relationship

[freightshaker]

This is a surprise to who??

[GTOlover]

Originally Posted by freightshaker

This is a surprise to who??

Let see if they are not just talking but back it up by acting on it and work with us on dealing with it.

[freightshaker]

Originally Posted by GTOlover

Let see if they are not just talking but back it up by acting on it and work with us on dealing with it.

I am betting it is little more than rhetoric on their behalf...

[Neuling]

Russia is not an enemy of either Iran or North Korea. Nor is Europe. Europe's only problem in this context is its association with the US.
If South Korea said they needed a missile shield, I would understand.
Russia is simply worried that it no longer has the nuclear advantage over neighboring countries. Russia's biggest headache is China I suppose.

[GregW]

I guess Russia's Military Industrial complex is looking for more business. Just another bunch of lying salesman. Believe at peril to you own purse. They are only looking for more money to spend on themselves.

Iran is only a threat to Saudi Arabia and no business of ours. We should have no truce with Kings. North Korea is a threat to South Korea that insults us with tariffs every day and China that would obliterate NK in a month. Again, not our problem.