Satellite imagery shows continued preparations at N. Korea's nuclear test site

By Park Sae-jin Posted : March 10, 2017, 09:08 Updated : March 10, 2017, 09:08

[Courtesy of 38 North]


The site for North Korea's underground nuclear test showed continued preparations for a fresh detonation that could take place if a decision is made to do so, according to 38 North, the website of a US research institute.

The Punggye-ri test site indicates "activity" at the North Portal, the main administrative area and the command center, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., a US experts, said in his analysis published by 38 North.

"The sum of these activities supports an assessment that North Korea continues to prepare the tunnels at the North Portal for a future nuclear test," he said.

"It also suggests that Punggye-ri is capable of handling a sixth nuclear test on short notice once a nuclear device and the associated monitoring equipment are emplaced. However, it is not possible to predict the timing of such a test based on the latest image."

On September 9 last year, Pyongyang claimed to have conducted a successful nuclear warhead explosion test aimed at acquiring technology for the production of diversified and miniaturized nuclear warheads to be carried by strategic missiles. It was the strongest-ever detonation that caused an artificial earthquake of magnitude 5.

South Korea's defense ministry said Pyongyang could conduct a conventional nuclear test or the underground detonation of a warhead without the use of nuclear materials.

New satellite imagery from March 7 indicates that the changing pattern of equipment and supplies, ongoing since October 2016, continues at the North Portal, Bermudez said.

Equipment and supplies present at this location on February 18 and 21 have been replaced by what appears to be a large shipping container or crate, he said, adding a pattern of tracks left by compacted snow indicates "movement" from the storage area to the support buildings and tunnel.

All of these activities suggest an ongoing program of maintaining and preparing the North Portal for a new nuclear test "should the decision be made to do so," the expert said.

North Korea's nuclear and long-range rocket tests triggered tough UN sanctions but leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to step up the development of atomic bombs and rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com

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