DPRK ready for another nuclear test: Yonhap

Monday, 10:03, 12/09/2016

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has completed preparations for another nuclear test, the Republic of Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on September 12, citing RoK government sources who said the DPRK may use a previously unused tunnel at its mountainous test site.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un gives a speech at the 9th Congress of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League in this undated photo released by DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on August 29, 2016. KCNA/ via REUTERS

Pyongyang on September 9 set off its most powerful nuclear blast to date, saying it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile and ratcheting up a threat that its rivals and the United Nations have been powerless to contain.

"Indications have been gathered that the DPRK has completed preparations to conduct a nuclear test at any time in the third tunnel that has not been used previously," Yonhap quoted one of the government sources as saying.

It did not elaborate on what activities had been detected at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site near the DPRK's northeastern shore, the location of its five nuclear explosions.

DPRK said on September 11 a push for further sanctions following its latest nuclear test was "laughable", and vowed to continue to strengthen its nuclear power.

A U.S. special envoy for the isolated state, Sung Kim, will travel to Seoul on September 12 after discussing with Japanese officials in Tokyo cooperation among neighboring countries in the wake of the DPRK's nuclear test.

Kim met with Japanese officials on September 11 and said the United States may launch unilateral sanctions against DPRK, echoing comments by U.S. President Barack Obama on September 9 in the wake of the test.

RoK said on September 10 that the latest test showed DPRK's nuclear capability was expanding fast and that DPRK leader Kim Jong Un was unwilling to alter course.

RoK's military put the force of September 9's blast at 10 kilotonnes, which would be the DPRK's most powerful blast to date, but a U.S. expert said the highest estimates of seismic magnitude suggested a yield of 20 to 30 kilotonnes.

The U.N. Security Council denounced DPRK's decision to carry out the test and said it would begin work immediately on a resolution. The United States, Britain and France pushed for the 15-member body to impose new sanctions.

Reuters

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DPRK conducts fifth and largest nuclear test

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted its fifth nuclear test on September 9, setting off a blast that was more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and said it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile.