A U.S. official told CNN yesterday there are "indications" that North Korea is gearing up to conduct another nuclear tesy (see GSN, June 11).
(Jun. 12) -
Former U.S. National Security Council staffer Victor Cha said North Korea might have conducted its 2006 nuclear test in response to international economic penalties. U.N. Security Council sanctions passed today could prompt a similar response from Pyongyang, observers warned (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration photo).
The official, who was not identified, did not provide further details.
The report came before the U.N. Security Council today unanimously approved a set of financial and trade sanctions in response to North Korea's underground nuclear blast on May 25 (see related GSN story, today).
Victor Cha, a former Asia specialist for the U.S. National Security Council, said there is precedent for Pyongyang reacting to sanctions by detonating a nuclear weapon.
"When the Bush administration undertook some of these financial measures, many people argued it led to North Korea's first nuclear test" in October 2006 Cha said. "And the question arises whether these financial measures will then lead North Korea to their third nuclear test. And I don't think we know the answer to that" (CNN, June 11).
South Korea also said today that Pyongyang could explode another atomic device in response to a U.N. resolution, Agence France-Presse reported.
"I think that's possible," said Won Tae-hae, a spokesman for South Korea's Defense Ministry. "It's a matter of common sense to think that could happen."
U.S. intelligence officials advised President Barack Obama that North Korea would stage another nuclear trial if the United Nations rebuked it with another resolution, according to Fox News.
"While we will not comment about intelligence reports, we have come to expect North Korea to act recklessly and dangerously," National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement. "But while the world unites to pass a strong new Security Council resolution, it is clear that North Korea's behavior is succeeding only in further isolating itself" (Agence France-Presse I/Spacewar.com, June 12).
Fox News also reported that the Central Intelligence Agency found evidence that Pyongyang plans to bolster its efforts to produce weapon-grade plutonium and uranium, and might test-fire another long-range ballistic missile, AFP reported (Agence France-Presse II/Spacewar.com, June 12).
Despite widespread speculation, a South Korean intelligence source today said Seoul had observed "no imminent signs" that the North is preparing to test a third atomic weapon, Kyodo News reported.
"North Korea is not seen to carry out a third nuclear test soon," the official was quoted as saying by the Yonhap News Agency.
"Signs like the movement of manpower and equipment around a nuclear test site site should be shown if a nuclear test is to take place," the source added, "but such signs have not been detected" (Kyodo News I/Breitbart.com, June 12).
Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone yesterday said his nation would make a "necessary response" to another test, Kyodo reported. He did not say what that might involve (Kyodo News II/Breitbart.com, June 12).