North Korea Says It's Prepared for Pre—Emptive Strike Against U.S. Bloomberg reports:

North Korea said it's prepared to strike first against the U.S., rather that wait for an attack, even as representatives of the two nations were making overtures in Tokyo for a resumption of nuclear talks.

"A pre—emptive attack is not a monopoly of the U.S.,'' the North's official Korea Central News Agency cited Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army Kim Il Chol as saying. North Korea ``will never sit idle until it is exposed to a preemptive attack of the U.S.''

The rhetoric comes as representatives to the six—nation talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons are gathered at the April 9—10 Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Tokyo. Delegates from North Korea, South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan are attending the event.

Thank—you, Jimmy Carter, for all your help to their drive for nuclear capability. Is it time to send Madeleine Albright back to Pyongyang so she can sit with the Kim Jong—il in front of 100,000 spectators and legitimize the regije some more?

Ed Lasky and Richard Baehr   4 9 06