South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said Monday that South Korea and US intelligence authorities believe North Korea has the ability to detonate another atomic device anytime at one of its tunnels at its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where the five previous atomic explosions took place.
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After the test, the North’s nuclear weapons institute said it will take unspecified measures to further boost its nuclear capability, which analysts said hinted at a possible sixth nuclear test.
“I think the US should go over the process of the development of the nuclear issue and earnestly work on a tangible and effective resolution”, she added. The United States, Britain and France – three of the five veto-wielding permanent members – pushed for the 15-member body to impose new sanctions.
2003 – Typhoon Maemi hits South Korea, leaving almost 120 people dead and 13 missing.
On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a “creative” response was needed.
Detection of North Korea’s fifth nuclear test brought new pressure on China. She was responding to calls by President Barack Obama for China to tighten up sanctions against Kim Jong Un’s regime prior to its fifth – and biggest – nuclear test last week. Russian Federation and China are the remaining veto powers on the Security Council. And South Korea says the North is preparing another nuclear test that could occur any day.
Pyongyang’s assertions that it is able to miniaturize a nuclear warhead have never been independently verified.
The official KCNA news agency reported on Sunday that the flooding in the country’s northeast has led to “great hardship”. One possibility is that China could try to broker a deal to freeze North Korea’s development of new missiles and warheads as part of the USA and South Korea suspending joint military exercises, Tong said.
The presidential office underlined President Park’s efforts on the worldwide stage to convey the urgency and gravity of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
His spokesman Moon Sang-gyun, said Monday if another nuclear test happened, it could come from a second or third site at Punggye-ri, where Friday’s test took place.
Also on Monday morning, Abe said at a meeting of high-ranking officials of the Self-Defense Forces held in the Defense Ministry: “It is absolutely unacceptable”.
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South Korea’s defense ministry said there was no change in its policy barring nuclear weapons.
