N. Korea's digging of tunnels may presage 3rd nuclear test: Yonhap+

SEOUL, Feb. 20 Kyodo -
North Korea has been digging special tunnels at its nuclear test site, sparking
concerns that it may be preparing for a third nuclear test, South Korean
government and military sources said Sunday, according to Yonhap News Agency.
North Korea conducted its two previous plutonium-fueled nuclear tests, one each
in 2006 and 2009, at the same site in North Hamgyong Province
''South Korea and U.S. intelligence authorities have spotted the North building
a couple of additional tunnels,'' a government source was quoted as saying.
''It's obvious that North Korea is preparing for a third nuclear test.''
The source said that while it is unclear whether the North will conduct a
uranium-fueled nuclear test or a plutonium-fueled one, the latter is more
likely as Pyongyang has already revealed the existence of a modern uranium
enrichment facility and expects strong opposition from China.
Yonhap said the South Korean military is watching to see whether the North will
conduct long-range missile tests at the same time as a nuclear test.
==Kyodo
2011-02-20 17:40:08


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next