SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The first satellite launched from South Korean soil is working normally, officials said Thursday, a day after Seoul achieved its space milestone amid high tensions over archrival North Korea's recent threat to test a third nuclear device.
South Korean officials have said that activity at the Punggye-ri site indicates preparations for another nuclear test after North Korea exploded a nuclear device there on Feb. 12.
For several weeks South Korean officials have said that activity at the Punggye-ri site indicates preparations for another nuclear test after North Korea exploded a nuclear device there on Feb. 12.
WSJ: North Korea Suspends Operations at Kaesong Industrial Complex
North Korea said it successfully detonated a miniaturized nuclear device at a northeastern test site Tuesday.
She also said South Korea was at "crisis level", following the recent underground test by North Korea of a nuclear device and its launch of a three-stage rocket, both of which were seen as a breach of UN resolutions and condemned as a threat to stability in the region.
Security experts say it successfully detonated a miniaturized nuclear device in its Feb. 12 test, which followed the launch of a long-range rocket in late December.
North Korea has said its nuclear test in February involved a miniature device, a description U.S. and international experts said at the time could mean the government had developed a warhead small enough to mount onto a missile.
Pyongyang claims its nuclear test involved a smaller and more powerful device - prompting concerns it could be moving closer to creating a warhead small enough to arm a missile.
Its successful satellite launch in December using long-range rocket technology and nuclear test have also triggered concerns that it is making progress in being able to mount a nuclear device on a long-range missile.
After North Korea test-fired missiles in July 2006 and then exploded a nuclear device the following October, South Korea suspended grants of fertiliser in protest.
North Korea said on Tuesday that it had carried out an underground nuclear test, which it claimed involved a miniaturised but more powerful device.
North Korea last week conducted its third nuclear test, claiming to have successfully detonated a smaller but more powerful device than in previous tests.
On 12 February the North tested a nuclear device, which is believed to be its third such test.
State-run KCNA news agency said the test was "carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturised and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously".
BBC: North Korea nuclear test branded 'serious threat' to US
Of course, these sentiments were expressed by test-ban advocates in the executive and legislative branches before there was evidence that China was preparing to detonate a nuclear device.
应用推荐