N. Korea likely to try third nuke test
Source: Agencies |
April 19, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NORTH Korea said yesterday it was ready to retaliate in the face of international condemnation over its failed rocket launch, increasing the chance the state will push ahead with a third nuclear test.
North Korea also ditched an agreement to allow back inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. That followed a US decision, in response to a rocket launch the United States says was a disguised long-range missile test, to break off a deal earlier this year to provide North Korea with food aid.
Pyongyang called the US move a hostile act and said it was no longer bound to stick to its side of the February 29 agreement.
"We have thus become able to take necessary retaliatory measures, free from the agreement," the official KCNA news agency said, without being specific.
Many analysts expect that with its third test, North Korea will for the first time try a nuclear device using highly enriched uranium, something it was long suspected of developing but which it only publicly admitted to about two years ago.
Defense experts say that by successfully enriching uranium, to make bombs of the type dropped on Hiroshima nearly 70 years ago, North Korea would be able to significantly build up stocks of weapons-grade nuclear material.
It would also allow it more easily to manufacture a nuclear warhead to mount on a long-range missile.
North Korea has insisted that last week's rocket launch was meant to put a satellite into orbit.
North Korea also ditched an agreement to allow back inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. That followed a US decision, in response to a rocket launch the United States says was a disguised long-range missile test, to break off a deal earlier this year to provide North Korea with food aid.
Pyongyang called the US move a hostile act and said it was no longer bound to stick to its side of the February 29 agreement.
"We have thus become able to take necessary retaliatory measures, free from the agreement," the official KCNA news agency said, without being specific.
Many analysts expect that with its third test, North Korea will for the first time try a nuclear device using highly enriched uranium, something it was long suspected of developing but which it only publicly admitted to about two years ago.
Defense experts say that by successfully enriching uranium, to make bombs of the type dropped on Hiroshima nearly 70 years ago, North Korea would be able to significantly build up stocks of weapons-grade nuclear material.
It would also allow it more easily to manufacture a nuclear warhead to mount on a long-range missile.
North Korea has insisted that last week's rocket launch was meant to put a satellite into orbit.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
