'Brisk activity' reported at North Korean nuclear test site
South Korean officials have detected “brisk” activity at a North Korean nuclear test site, a news report said today, days after the communist country threatened to conduct nuclear and missile tests.
Last week, the North said it would carry out a second nuclear test and test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, unless the UN Security Council apologises for criticising the country’s April 5 rocket launch.
Today, South Korea’s mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the South’s authorities have continuously detected “brisk” activities of personnel and vehicle movements at the North’s nuclear site in the northeastern county of Kilju, where the North conducted its first-ever nuclear test in 2006.
The paper quoted an unnamed South Korean government source as saying that the North is believed to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test soon. The paper didn’t say how South Korea obtained the intelligence.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry, Foreign Ministry and the National Intelligence Service – the country’s main spy agency – said they cannot confirm the report.
The newspaper also said North Korea is speeding up construction of a new west coast missile test site by recently deploying more workers and equipment there.
The paper said the South Korean military believes the North may implement its threatened long-range missile tests at the new site.
The paper quoted the source as saying the North is expected to advance the construction of the new launch site by several months, initially set for the end of this year.
In November, South Korea’s defence minister told parliament that construction of the North’s new missile site began eight years ago and is about 80% complete.
South Korean officials have said the new site appears designed to launch larger missiles or satellite projectiles than the North’s present east coast Musudan-ni site.
