BBC: N Korea allows blast site visit

A British diplomat is to be allowed to visit the site of a huge explosion in North Korea that raised fears of a nuclear test, a British minister says.

The UK's Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell requested acccess to the site during a visit to North Korea.

Pyongyang said the explosion was in fact the demolition of a mountain as part of a huge hydro-electric project.

In an unusual concession, North Korea said Britain's ambassador in Pyongyang could visit the site to see for himself.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3650702.stm

By Jamie Lyons, Political Correspondent, PA News, in Korea

A top British diplomat is to be taken to the scene of a massive blast in North Korea to verify the regime’s denial of nuclear tests.

The North Korean government has told Britain’s ambassador, David Slinn, he can visit the site as soon as tomorrow to check its claims that the explosion was caused deliberately as part of a major construction project.

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The invitation has surprised senior diplomats who had said the regime was certain to refuse because the blast happened in an area of strictly restricted access. Mr Rammell praised the decision.

“Having asked the vice-Foreign Minister this morning for our ambassador and other ambassadors to be allowed to visit the scene of the explosion I am very pleased North Korea has agreed to the visit,” he said.

More:
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3490740

for those now awake.

Sorry for being skeptical, as in very skeptical

I recall something about a dodgy dossier, Iraq, something like that.

Not serious of course, it's good to be skeptical.

But look at this post I made in the earlier thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x822871#823592

And look at this link from Reuters: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=582222§ion=news

That link says "Western diplomats", so it might be more than one.

Slso please remember that while the US/UK governments might not want to tell the whole truth, the Japanese (right-wing) media would almost certainly play this up big if there were even a hint that it could be officially declared a nuke.

If at least they would argue to make their point, instead of simply stating and restating their belief, completely unchallenged by the facts...
:-)