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N Korea 'preparing second test
October 10, 2006 03:40am

SOUTH Korean authorities suspect that the communist state might be preparing a second nuclear test after unusual activities were detected in a rugged area in North Korea yesterday, a news report said.

Kim Seung-Gyu, head of South Korea's spy agency, told Parliament that activity involving vehicles and as many as 40 people was under way at Punggyeri in the northeastern county of Kilju, Yonhap news agency reported.

“From 4pm (AEST) yesterday, there have been some unusual movements under way at Punggyeri where we had thought the first nuclear test would be carried out,” Mr Kim was quoted as saying.

“We have been closely following developments there to find out whether North Korea is moving to conduct a series of tests as India and Pakistan did,” he said.

An unidentified lawmaker who serves on Parliament's intelligence committee quoted Mr Kim as telling the committee that there is a “sufficient possibility” of the North carrying out more nuclear tests.

Punggyeri is where vehicle movements and the unloading of large reels of cable were spotted by satellites last month, prompting speculation that a nuclear test was being prepared.

Punggyeri is about 30km northeast of Hwadaeri, where South Korean officials said yesterday’s test appeared to have been carried out.

Mr Kim was also quoted as saying that North Korea is believed to have stored up to 40kg of plutonium, enough to make as many as seven nuclear bombs.

The 40kg includes 10-12kg that it had secured before it opened its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, 90km north of Pyongyang, to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, Mr Kim said.

Pakistan was the last nation, in May 1998, to conduct a nuclear weapons test.

Meanwhile, world powers condemned North Korea and the UN Security Council prepared a stern response that could further impoverish and isolate the communist state.

China, Pyongyang's strongest political and economic backer, denounced the test by its neighbour as “brazen” and urged it to avoid action that could worsen the situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the test.

US President George W. Bush called it a “provocative act” that threatened international peace and security and required an immediate response from the UN Security Council.

The announcement by Pyongyang sharply escalated world concerns over North Korea's nuclear program and was a slap in the face for major regional and world powers engaged in six-party talks intended to prevent just such a test.

It delivered a sharp blow to Chinese President Hu Jintao's doctrine of using economic incentives and diplomatic coaxing to avert North Korea's drive to become a nuclear weapons state. Only seven states have acknowledged having nuclear weapons.

Britain and France said they would support sanctions. “The discussion will be on sanctions,” France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said on his way into UN Security Council session. “The time has come to have a Chapter 7 resolution.”

Chapter 7 makes a resolution mandatory for all UN members and allows for sanctions and even war. But the Security Council has to state specifically what kind of action members want.

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messiah

I don't see anything wrong! It was the USA who used two bombs until now so logically it should be them who shouldn't own any!

shiroyeh

hmm.. I dont understand things here...

WHY has the US focused on bullying Iran over their nuclear energy/infrastructure project but they just let N Korea who really seem so much more hostile than Iran to build, test and now retest nuclear weapons and they condemn... I mean ffs they have threatened Iran with their 'bunker buster' nukes but old Kim Jong does this shit

Reignman

Is there anyone who understands what's going on? I don't think so.

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If there is a wish, there is a way!

Spark

Oil... Petroleum...