The information on this page comes from the latest news updates regarding the recent revelation of a possible North Korean nuclear test. If the test is confirmed, North Korea would become a nuclear power. The information on this page is subject to change as it is based on early reports from both media outlets and scientific and government sources. These early reports may be inaccurate and final judgment on the exact nature of the event that occurred on October 9, 2006 should be withheld until confirmation from reliable sources becomes available. |
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On October 9, 2006, North Korea claimed to have conducted a nuclear test. This test comes after almost 13 years of speculation regarding the DPRK's nuclear weapons program and, if confirmed, will make the socialist nation the world's ninth nuclear power.
At 4:21:18 on October 9, 2006 (UTC), North Korea supposedly conducted an underground nuclear test ~20 miles north of Kilchu in the northeastern part of the country. In Pyongyang, the official Korea Central News Agency reported the test 90 minutes after it occurred, at noon local time. The official statement from the Korean Central News Agency:
South Korea's state geology research center detected a 3.58-magnitude "artificial earthquake" in a remote area of North Korea's North Hamgyeong Province. The U.S. Geological Survey site recorded a light 4.2-magnitude earthquake in North Korea at 10:35 a.m., about 240 miles northeast of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. [link] The test was conducted under a 1,200 foot mountain northwest of the Musudan missile base in the Hwadaeri region. Considering the size of the mountain, it is most likely that the test was conducted in a horizontal tunnel rather then a vertical shaft. This region was the subject of speculation regarding the possible location for a nuclear test in August 2006. U.S. satellite images had shown wire bundles appearing at a suspected test site that could be used to monitor an underground test, as well as suspicious vehicle activity. [link] A shaft 700 meters (0.4 miles) deep has been sunk into Mount Mantap in North Hamkyong province with a horizontal tunnel running nearby.[link] It is still unclear whether this tunnel was used for the October 9 test.
The following are satellite images of the supposed nuclear test site. (Images courtesy of Google Earth) The coordinates used on this page to indicate the test location are sourced from the USGS
Early estimates on the yield of the test vary greatly. Until further data is gathered and confirmed, the following figures represent current estimations on the power of the nuclear detonation. (As of October 9, 2006) The lack of yield reports from the DPRK result in yield estimations based on seismic activity as monitored by station all around the world. The Korea Earthquake Research Centre reported the yield is approximately equivalent to 800 tons of dynamite, based on Richter scale readings from the explosion. The Yonhap news agency said the blast was equivalent to about 550 tons of TNT, based on the seismic tremor.[link] Gary Gibson, senior seismologist at Australia's Seismology Research Centre, said a 4.2 magnitude quake would be the result of a one kiloton explosion.[link] The RIA news agency quoted on Monday Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov as saying that the nuclear device tested by North Korea ranged between five and 15 kilotons.[link] US Geological Survey, which monitors quakes around the globe, put the seismic magnitude at 4.2. The Japan Meteorological Agency registered a magnitude-4.9 shock, both measures suggesting something between a 10 to 20 kiloton yield. [link] The possible low yield of the shot (low kiloton) could be an indication of a failed or fizzled test. France's Atomic Energy Commission estimated the North Korean blast at around 1 kiloton or less - equivalent to the explosive force of 1,000 tons of TNT. For a nuclear device, that would be so weak that the French defense minister [Xavier Clement] suggested that "there could have been a failure" with the North Korean reported test. [link]
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