North Korea seems to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in Gilju, North Hamgyeong Province, the U.S. broadcaster ABC on Friday quoted anonymous State and Defense Department officials as saying. They said suspicious movements of vehicles and the unloading of large cables that may be used to connect equipment to observe the test had been spotted in the area. ABC quoted the officials as saying there was a "real possibility" that the test will be carried out. In May last year, cement and other materials were spotted being transported into a tunnel in the mountains, sparking fears of a nuclear test. The White House on Thursday warned if Pyongyang goes through with the test now, it would draw international condemnation and be considered highly provocative behavior.
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A satellite photo of a suspected nuclear test facility in Gilju, North Hamgyeong Province, North Korea/ courtesy of Digitalglobe
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Korean officials indirectly hinted at the truth of the existence of the cable that the ABC report spoke of. "As of this moment, there has been no confirmation of movements toward a nuclear test," an official here said, but added Seoul considers it ¡°a logical possibility¡± that the North could carry out a test. ¡°We are closely scrutinizing the situation," he said. "Since excavation is being conducted deep in the mountains, and cable is piling up at the location, these don¡¯t seem to be normal military training operations." Asked whether the North is technologically at a level where it can conduct such a test, the official answered, "That is an issue of assessing intelligence, but the majority of appraisals have suggested that." Another government official said Seoul is considering ¡°every possibility, and Korea and the U.S. are discussing emergency measures. We are not taking the situation lightly."
Officially, however, Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok said, "We think that the comments from the White House were intended to warn of a possibility."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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