North Korea says nuclear weapons test 'successful'

[Capt_Picard 0]

North Korea says nuclear weapons test 'successful'

 

October 8, 2006

 

By Associated Press

 

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - North Korea said Monday it has performed its first-ever nuclear weapons test and the blast had been successfully set off underground with no radioactive leakage from the site.

 

An official at South Korea's seismic monitoring center confirmed a magnitude-4.2 tremor felt at the time North Korea said it conducted the test was not a natural occurrence. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition his name not be used, because he was not authorized to talk about the sensitive information to the media.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that information still needs to collected and analyzed to determine whether North Korea truly conducted its first nuclear test.

 

U.S. and South Korean officials could not immediately confirm the report.

 

South Korea's Defense Ministry said the alert level of the military had been raised in response to the claimed nuclear test.

 

The North said last week it would conduct a test, sparking regional concern and frantic diplomatic efforts aimed at dissuading Pyongyang from such a move. North Korea has long claimed to have nuclear weapons, but had never before performed a known test to prove its arsenal.

 

The North's official Korean Central News Agency said the underground test was performed successfully.

 

"It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the ... people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defense capability," the KCNA statement said.

 

"It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the area around it."

 

South Korean intelligence officials said the seismic wave had been detected in North Hamkyung province, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. It said the test was conducted at 10:36 a.m. (9:36 p.m. EDT Sunday) in Hwaderi near Kilju city on the northeast coast, citing defense officials.

 

North Korean scientists "successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions," the KCNA report said, adding this was "a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation."

 

The U.S. Geological Survey said it had detected no seismic activity in North Korea, although it was not clear whether a blast would be strong enough for its sensors.

 

On Sunday night, U.S. government officials said a wide range of agencies were looking into the report of the nuclear test, which officials were taking seriously.

 

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has convened a meeting of security advisers over the issue, Yonhap reported, and intelligence over the test has been exchanged between concerned countries.

 

Kyodo News agency reported that the Japanese government has set up a taskforce in response to reports of the test.

 

The North has refused for a year to attend international talks aimed at persuading it to disarm. The country pulled out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 2003 after U.S. officials accused it of a secret nuclear program, allegedly violating an earlier nuclear pact between Washington and Pyongyang.

 

Speculation over a possible North Korean test arose earlier this year after U.S. and Japanese reports cited suspicious activity at a suspected underground test site.

Edited October 9, 2006 by Capt_Picard

[Odie 0]

This is not what I want to hear right now. :)

Edited October 9, 2006 by Odie

[Capt_Picard 0]

This is not what I want to hear right now. :)

You don't want to hear it, but I live less then a mile from the only place in the Pacific that can fix every ship in the navy. I'll be hearing something with in a few mintues... That's what I get for living on Base Kitsap... I mean Kitsap County.

[Odie 0]

I am in the Navy, and live near four military bases. I know the chain of events that will happen if they launch any missile and if one hits us or our alleys. Much more than you think I do. Myself and every single sailor that is station in the West Coast and forward deployed in Asia are training for something like this event.

 

It is something right now with my son on the way I really do not hear about N. Korea testing their weapons when their closest alley to them not to do it. Even though I am not deployable my son's father who is on ship is deployable and might go out to N. Korea if they did more than test the missile.

 

Actually you do not live in the only place that can fix every ship in Pacific coast. That ship yard will alone fix ships that are station in Washington or if a ship needs to be repaired in emergency and happen be in the geographic location than they are responsible for it. There are ship yards in San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and other places through out Asia. The largest one outside of United States is in Japan.

Edited October 9, 2006 by Odie

[Capt_Picard 0]

Isn't P.S.N.S. the only shipyard in the Pacific that can fix the supercarriers?

[Odie 0]

Nope, it is not the only place. There is one more place in Japan that can do it, but that is all I can tell you. If the aircraft carrier needs major repairs right away they will go the closest base that nuclear certified to repair the ship. If they are in Asia they will go to Japan not Washington for the repairs. In addition, if the repairs are not involved with their reactors they can go to any ship yard to get them completed.

 

The only reasons I know this information it is part of my job to know it. I was actually station at the base that has the ship yard. I know the pier and dry dock that is nuclear certified to handle the ship. I also know base currently ready to support a Nimitz aircraft carrier, and will get one in a few years.

Edited October 9, 2006 by Odie

[MANVERU 0]

Oh... my... god.

[Kor37 9]

This planet is in a tailspin and this just accelerated the process..........

[Odie 0]

The planet has always been in a tailspin since the first man killed another man.

 

Seriously, I am not really surprised by the nuclear tests. Greatly disappointed and very worried that they did the test after their closest alley (China) told them not to do it. They have been openly seeking nuclear weapons for how long. Years! I wonder what actions will happen to N. Korea after the test. More useless talks and that are not back up with action. More useless economic boycotts by other countries that really do not work, because N. Korea is willing to starve their people and other countries willing to ignore the boycott. Something with actual meaning must be done with N. Korea to make sure they do not use their nuclear weapons let alone sell them to terrorist groups.

 

Does anyone remember why we went into Iraq? :)

[youbroughtheryouRiker 2]

Even with a nuclear weapon, North Korea is still too much of a weakling nation for pre-emptive action. They'll have to nuke the Alaskan Klondike before the U.S. could possibly do anything without taking a worldload of backlash. And I think Kim Jong Il is crazy enough to try it too. And if he does, we're gonna have a new island: South Korea.

[Data 0]

I don't know Odie. We invaded Iraq because they were supposed to be working on Nuclear weapons. It was not the only reason. But it was a huge part of why we invaded Iraq. At least the one that was publicly used. Now Iran has a materials and North Korea has already completed tests. I do not see a very good end to this whole mess. Bush is not really equipped to really know what to do. Actually, most Presidents really are not. It needs to be handled by the International Community leaders combined.