N. Korea may 'launch new test'
Source: Agencies |
February 21, 2011, Monday
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NORTH Korea is digging tunnels at a site where it has launched two nuclear tests, suggesting it is preparing a third, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said yesterday.
North Korea was excavating several tunnels before picking the most suitable, Yonhap said, citing an unnamed South Korean -government source.
"South Korean and US intelligence authorities have spotted North Korea building several other underground mines at Punggye-ri where it had run two nuclear tests," the source was quoted as saying.
"It is judged to be clear evidence of (North Korea) preparing for a third nuclear test."
Military talks broke down between the two sides this month, dealing a setback to the resumption of six-party aid-for-disarmament negotiations, which North Korea left more than two years ago.
On Sunday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak renewed calls for dialogue between the rivals, saying this year was an "appropriate time" for North Korea to change its course. And for the second time in three weeks Lee held out the prospect of summit talks.
"I would like to give North Korea the message that we are always open (to talks) and (it has) a good chance this year," Lee told -reporters in Seoul.
North Korea has said it wants to build a "great and prosperous -nation" by 2012, the centenary of the birth of the state's founder Kim Il-sung.
Pyongyang also said it wants to return to the six-party negotiations, but Seoul and Washington have questioned its sincerity about denuclearizing - pointing to its revelations in November about a uranium-enrichment program.
Pyongyang says the program is for peaceful energy--producing purposes.
North Korea was likely to conduct a plutonium-fuelled test, the source told Yonhap.
North Korea was excavating several tunnels before picking the most suitable, Yonhap said, citing an unnamed South Korean -government source.
"South Korean and US intelligence authorities have spotted North Korea building several other underground mines at Punggye-ri where it had run two nuclear tests," the source was quoted as saying.
"It is judged to be clear evidence of (North Korea) preparing for a third nuclear test."
Military talks broke down between the two sides this month, dealing a setback to the resumption of six-party aid-for-disarmament negotiations, which North Korea left more than two years ago.
On Sunday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak renewed calls for dialogue between the rivals, saying this year was an "appropriate time" for North Korea to change its course. And for the second time in three weeks Lee held out the prospect of summit talks.
"I would like to give North Korea the message that we are always open (to talks) and (it has) a good chance this year," Lee told -reporters in Seoul.
North Korea has said it wants to build a "great and prosperous -nation" by 2012, the centenary of the birth of the state's founder Kim Il-sung.
Pyongyang also said it wants to return to the six-party negotiations, but Seoul and Washington have questioned its sincerity about denuclearizing - pointing to its revelations in November about a uranium-enrichment program.
Pyongyang says the program is for peaceful energy--producing purposes.
North Korea was likely to conduct a plutonium-fuelled test, the source told Yonhap.
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