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| Nuclear test 'explosion' suspected in North Korea after earthquake detected | Nuclear test 'explosion' suspected in North Korea after earthquake detected |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Korea is suspected of carrying out a new nuclear explosion after a large earthquake was detected in the region of its test site in the north east of the country. | North Korea is suspected of carrying out a new nuclear explosion after a large earthquake was detected in the region of its test site in the north east of the country. |
| The US Geological Survey said on Friday it had recorded a 5.3 seismic event near the site. It called the event an “explosion”. | The US Geological Survey said on Friday it had recorded a 5.3 seismic event near the site. It called the event an “explosion”. |
| The news sparked immediate concern in the region, with South Korea announcing that its prime minister would preside over an emergency national security council meeting. | The news sparked immediate concern in the region, with South Korea announcing that its prime minister would preside over an emergency national security council meeting. |
| South Korea’s news agency reported that Seoul believes North Korea had conducted its 5th nuclear test explosion. | South Korea’s news agency reported that Seoul believes North Korea had conducted its 5th nuclear test explosion. |
| Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council, pending confirmation that the earthquake was indeed a nuclear test. | Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council, pending confirmation that the earthquake was indeed a nuclear test. |
| Abe said evidence pointed to the possibility that the quake had not occurred naturally. “If it turns out that North Korea has carried out a nuclear test, that is something we cannot tolerate,” he told reporters. | Abe said evidence pointed to the possibility that the quake had not occurred naturally. “If it turns out that North Korea has carried out a nuclear test, that is something we cannot tolerate,” he told reporters. |
| Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said: “Given similar cases in the past, we think (the earthquake) may have been a nuclear test.” | Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said: “Given similar cases in the past, we think (the earthquake) may have been a nuclear test.” |
| Japan’s defence ministry has reportedly dispatched aircraft to analyse air samples to see if any radiation could be detected. So far three, three T-4 aircraft, which are usually used to train fighter pilots, have been deployed, sources told Reuters. | |
| CCTV, China’s state broadcaster, reported that the country’s department of environmental protection had launched a level-two emergency response to the suspected test. Nuclear radiation monitoring was being carried out along China’s northeastern border with North Korea it said. | |
| Meanwhile the United States National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said: “We are aware of seismic activity on the Korean Peninsula in the vicinity of a known North Korean nuclear test site. We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our regional partners.” | |
| The seismic event took place at 9.30am local time and occurred at ground level. Naturally occurring earthquakes strike below ground. Its epicentre was 18km east-north-east of Sungjibaegam, the US agency said. | The seismic event took place at 9.30am local time and occurred at ground level. Naturally occurring earthquakes strike below ground. Its epicentre was 18km east-north-east of Sungjibaegam, the US agency said. |
| The magnitude of the seismic event would indicate a device with a 20 to 30 kilotonne yield, an analyst said, the largest yield estimate yet of a North Korean nuclear device. | The magnitude of the seismic event would indicate a device with a 20 to 30 kilotonne yield, an analyst said, the largest yield estimate yet of a North Korean nuclear device. |
| “That’s the largest DPRK test to date, 20-30kt, at least. Not a happy day,” Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies told Reuters, using the North’s official title of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. | “That’s the largest DPRK test to date, 20-30kt, at least. Not a happy day,” Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies told Reuters, using the North’s official title of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. |
| “Yield estimates are always kind of approximate. The point is that it is the biggest one to date unless they revise the yield downward.” | “Yield estimates are always kind of approximate. The point is that it is the biggest one to date unless they revise the yield downward.” |
| Three days ago the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, said his military should continue nuclear weapons development after another round of test-firing of ballistic missiles. | Three days ago the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, said his military should continue nuclear weapons development after another round of test-firing of ballistic missiles. |
| The North Korean KCNA news agency said on Tuesday: “He stressed the need to continue making miraculous achievements in bolstering up the nuclear force one after another in this historic year.” | The North Korean KCNA news agency said on Tuesday: “He stressed the need to continue making miraculous achievements in bolstering up the nuclear force one after another in this historic year.” |
| If confirmed, the timing of Friday’s test is significant as it would coincide with the 68th anniversary of the country’s founding by Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong-un. | If confirmed, the timing of Friday’s test is significant as it would coincide with the 68th anniversary of the country’s founding by Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong-un. |
| Two months ago, U.S.-based 38 North, a North Korea monitoring project, said satellite images showed a high level of activity at North Korea’s nuclear test site, called Punggye-ri. | Two months ago, U.S.-based 38 North, a North Korea monitoring project, said satellite images showed a high level of activity at North Korea’s nuclear test site, called Punggye-ri. |
| Speculation had intensified that North Korea may conduct a fifth nuclear test after the United States blacklisted Kim on 6 July for human rights abuses. | Speculation had intensified that North Korea may conduct a fifth nuclear test after the United States blacklisted Kim on 6 July for human rights abuses. |
| North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, resulting in tough new UN sanctions. It has conducted a series of missile tests this year, including a submarine-launched missile. | North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, resulting in tough new UN sanctions. It has conducted a series of missile tests this year, including a submarine-launched missile. |
| More follows. | More follows. |