02 April 2013/21 Jumada l-Ula 1434/13 Farvardin 1391/22 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“…the current crisis has already gone too far.  Nuclear threats are not a game…….I’m convinced that nobody wants to attack DPRK because of disagreements about its political system or foreign policy. However, I’m afraid that others will respond firmly to any direct military provocation.”-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General

The UN leader made the statement after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced it was re-starting the Nyongbyon (Yongbyon) nuclear complex. 

“We are taking action to refurbish and reactivate the reactor together with all other nuclear facilities in Yongbyon including a uranium enrichment plant.  The decision is in line with our two-track strategies of building the economy and developing nuclear power at the same time.…All projects will be executed without delay.”-DPRK statement

The complex was shut down in 2007, as part of agreements with the United States, Republic of Korea and China.  South Korean officials said the nuclear complex re-start was a violation of agreements that could justify war: “I watched the report. It would be very regrettable if the news report is true.”–Cho Tai-young, ROK government spokesman

In Germany, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that DPRK officials are seeking help from German economists and lawyers in changing their economic policies. Apparently North Korea does not want to follow China’s lead in economic policy, and is more interested in Vietnam’s economic model.