nuclear-news

Satellite photography indicates North Korea’s nuclear activity

New photo shows work at NKorea nuclear test site Google News, By MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press 28 April 12, WASHINGTON  — New satellite imagery appears to show a train of mining carts and other preparations under way at North Korea’s nuclear test site but no indication of when a detonation might take place.
Early this month, South Korean intelligence reported digging of a new
tunnel at the Punggye-ri site, which it took as a sign that North
Korea was covertly preparing for a third nuclear test.
The U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced
International Studies provided The Associated Press on Friday with its
analysis of a sequence of photos of the site obtained from a private
satellite operator and taken between March 8 and April 18.
The analysis estimates that 8,000 cubic meters (282,500 cubic feet) of
rubble have been excavated at the site, where the communist country
conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
“While it’s very clear from looking at these photos that the North has
stepped up preparations for a nuclear test over the past few months,
it’s unclear exactly when the blast will occur,” said Joel Wit, editor
of the institute’s website, “38 North.”….
On Wednesday, a top military chief in Pyongyang said the North is
armed with “powerful modern weapons” capable of defeating the U.S. — a
claim questioned by experts.
Washington worries about the possibility that North Korea might
develop a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile and wed it with
a nuclear bomb. Outside experts say the North has enough plutonium for
about four to eight “simple” bombs, but does not yet appear to have
the ability to make bombs small enough to mount on a missile.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h0O6kB4FcbGMhuA6tLC_zotAaB2A?docId=71ebd4f9d822450b94a0485a9c4aa72b

April 28, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | North Korea, weapons and war