'Missiles 'R' Us,' but Would North Korea Sell Their Nukes?

July 28, 2006 9:53 AM


Brian Ross and Dana Hughes Report:


North Korea's greatest threat isn't from the missiles they launch, but the nuclear bomb they might sell to terrorists, says one of the nation's leading nuclear terrorism experts.


Professor Graham Allison, a nuclear terrorism expert at Harvard University warns that North Korea could be dangerously close to selling a nuclear bomb to al Qaeda.


"North Korea currently sells anything that anyone will pay for," said Allison. "It is known in the business as 'Missiles 'R' Us.'"


Allison points out that despite all the problems with Iran this year, North Korea has continued to sell weapons to that country.


"North Korea succeeded in selling them 18 missiles," he said. "So if they sold these missiles, why wouldn't they sell these things for a bomb?"


The Bush administration continues to pursue diplomatic efforts with North Korea though the recent events in Israel and Lebanon have now taken center stage. Allison, however, insists that now is the time for the administration, normally known for its toughness, to take a hard line with Kim Jong Il. Bush should warn them with these words, suggests Allison.


"If a bomb explodes on American territory or the territory of one of our allies that originates in North Korea, we're going to respond to this just like you would on a warhead on a missile to us."