N. Korea to have over 50 nuclear weapons by 2010: retired general

[NNN0LHI]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20061213/630000000020061213185853E8.html

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is expected to possess 55 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium by year's end and is likely to be in a position to produce over 50 atomic bombs by 2010, a retired South Korean general said Wednesday.

"North Korea increased its plutonium capacity to 42 kilograms as it gained an additional 27 kilograms by reprocessing spent fuel rods after withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in January 2003," said Jang Joon-ik, a retired general and former president of the Korea Military Academy (KMA), an equivalent of the U.S. military school at West Point.

The remarks came at a Seoul forum organized by the Korean Veterans' Association.