North Korea Conducts New Nuclear Test

True to its word, Pyongyang has made good on its threat to conduct further nuclear tests and abandon its disarmament programme. The state-run Korean Central News Agency made the following announcement on Monday morning local time:

“According to the demand of our scientists and technicians, our republic has successfully conducted another underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of measures to strengthen its nuclear power in self-defence.”

South Korean sources reported that Pyongyang had also test-fired several short-range ballistic missiles.

Alarm in the international community

The international community reacted with alarm. Neighbouring South Korea put troops on high alert. The United States, the European Union and the United Nations strongly condemned the tests, whilst China said it opposed them “resolutely”.

A German foreign ministry spokesman expressed concern: “The federal government condemns the nuclear and rocket test in North Korea in the strongest possible terms. The tests violate the existing resolutions of the UN Security Council and are capable of provoking an exacerbation of the situation in the region. We strongly urge North Korea to refrain from such provocation.”

The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea and passed Resolution 1718, which bans the communist state from conducting nuclear tests, after it carried out a first test in October 2006.

Then followed a period of relative detente and a series of six-nation talks that were supposed to lead to North Korea’s nuclear disarmament.

Tension had been rising since early April

However, the situation has been tense since April 5 when Pyongyang proudly launched a rocket and provoked the ire of the international community. The Security Council strongly condemned the launch, which was widely believed to be a missile test. In retaliation, Pyongyang abandoned the talks and threatened to re-start its nuclear facilities.

Monday’s test indicates that North Korea’s atomic programme has developed significantly.

South Korea said the magnitude of the quake was 4.5 on the Richter scale.

Russia’s defence ministry was quoted as saying the blast was up to 20 kilotons -- roughly the same size as the atomic bomb dropped by the US on the Japanese city of Nagasaki in 1945.

Attempt to push US into negotiations

Rebecca Johnson, the head of the London-based Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, said: “They (North Korea) seem to be trying to demonstrate that they could do a nuclear explosion that could be turned into a nuclear bomb. Now that is the really serious issue that we have to grapple with.”

Patrick Köllner, a German expert on North Korean affairs, said there was one main reason behind the move: “I think it can be seen as an attempt at blackmail but it is predominantly about getting the Americans to make concessions on matters dear to North Korea. These include a security treaty with the USA and the beginning of diplomatic relations.”

There have been no diplomatic relations between North Korea and the United States since the de facto end of the Korean War in 1953.

Author: Anne Thomas
Editor: Thomas Bärthlein