Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. PHOTO: AFP
Dr Abdul Qadeer (AQ) Khan says he doubts North Korea will explode a nuclear device in its current face-off with the United States and South Korea, saying the regime of Kim Jong Un is “not very stupid.”
Khan said he did not think the North Koreans are “trigger happy.”
In an exclusive 30-minute phone interview, Khan told Fox News: “Oh, no, no, no, they (the North Koreans) are not very stupid … few people blow it up and get hype, blow it against proportion. North Korea is such a small country, if America drops a single bomb, there won’t be any North Korea on the map of the world. The North Koreans know it very well and the Americans know it very well, but for sheer propaganda and publicity both play the game.”
North Korea’s last nuclear test on February 11 was described as a miniaturised atomic bomb of six-seven kilotons mounted on a Nodong missile.
“Officially we had a program with them,” Khan said in his interview with Fox. “I went there twice…we had a missile program.”
It has been widely reported Khan visited N Korea more than a dozen times to secure the Nodong missile design, which he renamed as the Ghauri.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (16)
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Let us be realistic for a change. The whole thing about Korea is undoubtedly a US beat-up, via Reuters etc. The fairy tales we have had to put up with for the last 60 years have been unbelievable. President Kennedy was killed by boomerang bullets, the Twin towers mysteriously collapsed into powder dust, Iraq had weapons of mass destruction which have never been found, the poor old Taliban got the blame for 9/11 when it was a Saudi operation, the US searched for Osama bin Laden for 11 years, and when they found him he was murdered and dumped into the sea so there is no proof, Libya had the highest standard of living in Europe, but US/NATO bombed it into the stone-age, and murdered Colonel Gaddaffi. When a country such as Korea push back they are the bad guys, and people just mysteriously forget that America has fought about 40 wars since WWII, and killed many millions of people. However, in this case the US will not do anything. America never fights anybody who can put up serious resistance, and people should remember that Korea is in its own country, and nobody invited the US.
Now that the Indians are speaking from all directions including CNN Zakari, who recommends no reconciliation jesture of sending a delegation for a dialogue, to North Korean leader, let me make a guess prognosis! At the 11th hour North Korea will launch a massive conventional attack across the armistice line, breaking the truce. In case of a response from the allies, nuclear missiles will be launched in self defence. I hope and pray that I am wrong and some wise man from the adminstation will react at the last minute to cool things down! The amistice line in any case is meaningless now the diplomacy has turned nto 100% sanctions and military theats.
Rex Minor
AQ khan lost his credibility the day he approved of water run car in Pakistan . I now doubt about all or any of his achievements
Mr AQ Khan was more of a nuclear thief than scientist. Meanwhile he smuggled stolen nuclear technology to N Korea in exchange of missile technology.
Dr Khan is one of the greatest nuclear scentist of our times. I have a great respect for this genious. His explanation has a logic but can one use it with Koreans after repeated provocations from the yanks and the south koreans couple with UNO sanctions and cold shouldring by te Chines? Kim is not Khuschev who overlooked Kennedy impertinance, anyhing is possible from the 29 year old ruler over moe than million strong military.
The japanese were the unique to send piloted fighter aircrafts on suicde missions as well as the first to blow up the enemy tanks by lying down with mines in the middle of the road.
Rex Minor PS who would have thought that a small country like Noth Korea would theaten the super power.
It is OK to have it in the basement. Use it when needed. This what he meant.
Great man god bless u.
Why not they do what they do leave them alone.
Great man indeed.
This guy has never been right in anything he has said so far. I think he should quit giving statements. Lets not make another water car engineer.
So for once, some things used by our army aren't "made in china". They are "made in Korea".
It means that what he sold to them is not working correctly?
It’s just a dulled and overt warning from North Korea that its weapons programs would “target” the USA, and that it would proceed with a third and “higher-level” nuclear test. I am doubtful that N. Korea's threats are serious and these are just for their internal political affairs among the various groups of their military and ruling guys
strong text It’s just a dulled and overt warning from North Korea that its weapons programs would “target” the USA, and that it would proceed with a third and “higher-level” nuclear test. I am doubtful that N. Korea's threats are serious and these are just for their internal political affairs among the various groups of their military and ruling guys
being the former ally of Evil of Axis, AKA North Korea.. AQ Khan must be having good relations with them and we can take his comments fairly true.