Current Location: Home » News » World Military » Text

North Korea building nuclear test tunnel, satellite images sugges

Zoom  Zoome in   Views:193
Core Tip:North Korea appears to be digging a tunnel that could be used for a detonation at its main nuclear test site, according to new satellite photography analysis.
u=1794355154,269689039&fm=11&gp=0

North Korea appears to be digging a tunnel that could be used for a detonation at its main nuclear test site, according to new satellite photography analysis. 

Jeffrey Lewis, a prominent nuclear weapons analyst at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, said images from the past two months suggested work was under way on a fourth tunnel at the Punggye-ri site on the country’s east coast. 

North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests, in 2006, 2009 and 2013. Speculation has grown in recent months about a possible fourth test, which some had thought might come in October to mark the anniversary of foundation of the ruling Korean Workers’ party.

In his analysis posted on the North Korea-focused 38 North website, Mr Lewis said there were no indications that a test was imminent but noted that it would add to Pyongyang’s “ability to conduct additional detonations at Punggye-ri over the coming years”. 

North Korea’s three previous tests suggested steady advances in nuclear technology. Academics at the University of Science and Technology of China estimated the yield of the 2013 test at about 12kT: more than double the force of its 2009 test and four-fifths that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

Significantly, South Korean and US intelligence agencies see reason to believe North Korea’s claims that it has mastered the technology needed to produce a nuclear warhead small enough to be used with an intercontinental ballistic missile.

“I agree with the Intel community that?.?.?.?they have the weapons, and they have the ability to miniaturise those weapons, and they have the ability to put them on a rocket that can range the homelands,” Admiral William Gortney, head of the US Northern Command, said in October.

Mr Lewis’s analysis came hours ahead of talks on Thursday between envoys from the US, South Korea and Japan to discuss ways to induce North Korea to give up its nuclear programme. But North Korea has refused to engage in such talks since 2012, insisting that any resumption should happen without preconditions, while Washington says it must first take a step towards denuclearisation. 

Analysts believe Pyongyang is continuing to develop both uranium-based and plutonium-based nuclear materials; in September it confirmed the resumption of operations at its Yongbyon plutonium reactor, which had been suspended following a shortlived international agreement in 2007. 

Leading Chinese experts told US researchers this year they believed North Korea may have had about 20 nuclear warheads at the end of 2014, and that it could double that by the end of 2016.


 

If you believe that this information is a violation of your legitimate rights and interests, please send the relevant qualification certificate and your rights to info@worldinout.com, Worldinout staff will reply as soon as possible! The purpose of this network is to convey more information, does not mean that the network is in favor of its views and its authenticity. Such as reproduced this site information, please specify the source.

 
[ NewsSearch ]  [ Add to Favorites ]  [ Tell a friend ]  [ Print ]  [ Send report ]  [ Close the window ]

 

 
Recommended Graphic
Recommend News
Click Ranking
 
HomeSite | About us | Contact Us | Agreement | Copyright | Sitemap | Spread | Guestbook | RSS Feed