2006 North Korean nuclear test

2006 North Korea nuclear test
Believed to be Near Gilju
Graphic from U.S. Geological Survey showing seismic activity at the time of the apparent test.
Type	Nuclear test site
Site information
Operator	North Korea
Site history
In use	October 9, 2006

The 2006 North Korea nuclear test, North Korea's first, was reportedly carried out on October 9, 2006 approximately 10:35:27 AM local time, nearly a week after North Korea claimed that it was planning to perform a test. The Korean Central News Agency, the country's state news agency, issued the following statement:

The field of scientific research in the DPRK successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, 2006, at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great, prosperous, powerful socialist nation. It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under scientific consideration and careful calculation.
The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 percent. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defense capability. It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the area around it.

U.S. officials have reported that the government of the People's Republic of China was given a 20-minute advance warning that the test was about to occur. The PRC sent an emergency alert to Washington through the United States embassy in Beijing and President George W. Bush was told shortly after 10 p.m. that a test was imminent by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

Background

Main article: North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

North Korea had been suspected of maintaining a clandestine nuclear weapons development program since at least the early 1990s when it constructed a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, and various diplomatic means had been used by the international community to attempt to limit North Korea's nuclear work to peaceful and scientific means and encouraging the socialist state to participate in international treaties. In 1994 the United States and North Korea signed the "Agreed Framework", whereby North Korea agreed to freeze its plutonium production program in exchange for fuel oil, economic cooperation, and the construction of two modern light-water nuclear power plants. Eventually, North Korea's existing nuclear facilities were to be dismantled, and the spent reactor fuel taken out of the country.

However in 2002 rumors circulated that North Korea was pursuing both uranium enrichment technology as well as plutonium-reprocessing technology in defiance of the "Agreed Framework". North Korea reportedly told American diplomats in private that they were in possession of nuclear weapons, citing American failures to uphold their own end of the "Agreed Framework" as a motivating force. In public, the North Korean state clarified that it did not possess weapons yet, but that it had a right to possess them. In late 2002 and early 2003 North Korea began to take steps to eject International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors while re-routing spent fuel rods for plutonium reprocessing for weapons purposes. Throughout the course of 2003 North Korean and American officials exchanged harsh words and staged military exercises which were interpreted by the other party to be aggressive. As late as the end of 2003 North Korea claimed that it would freeze its nuclear program in exchange for American concessions — in particular a non-aggression treaty — but a final agreement could not be reached and talks continued to be cancelled or fall through. North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 after not receiving promised light water reactors which were going to be delivered by the United States in exchange for North Korea's not developing their own power plants, as understood in the "Agreed Framework".

The 5 MWe Yongbyon nuclear reactor, showing the fuel channels.

In early 2004 a team of American inspectors, led by former Los Alamos National Laboratory head Sig Hecker, was allowed to inspect North Korea's plutonium production facilities. Hecker later testified before Congress that while North Korea seems to have successfully extracted plutonium from the spent fuel rods, he saw no evidence at the time that they had actually produced a workable weapon. In September 2004, though, North Korean officials announced they had successfully processed Yongbyon plutonium into a workable nuclear deterrent. Through 2005 more diplomatic talks would be attempt to be held between the United States, North Korea, South Korea, the People's Republic of China, Japan, and Russia (the "Six-party talks") but little concrete change occurred.

Because North Korea had not conducted a successful test of a nuclear device, the extent of its actual nuclear weapons program remained ambiguous through 2005 and much of 2006. Though North Korea conducted numerous missile tests (some of which were branded failures by international experts), the question of whether they had actually mastered all aspects of the nuclear weapons technology — ranging from proper material production to the complicated nuclear weapons design needed to produce the final detonation — remained unanswered. Rumors of an impending nuclear test circulated during 2005 and early 2006, though none came to immediate fruition. On October 3, 2006, however, the North Korean state claimed that it would soon conduct a nuclear test, and on October 9, 2006, the state claimed to have successfully conducted said test.

Yield estimates

Fox News stated at 3:59 a.m. [UTC] that a senior Bush administrator claimed that the test yield appears to have fallen short of the 4 kilotons TNT equivalent that the North Koreans initially attempted to detonate.

Russian sources claimed the bomb's yield at between 5 and 15 kilotons. The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources initially made an estimate of 550 tons for the yield, but later raised their estimate to 800 tons.

Jane's Defence Weekly reported "Initial and unconfirmed South Korean reports indicate that the test was a fission device with a yield of .55 kT ... The figure of .55 kT, however, seems too low given the 4.2 register on the Richter scale. This could suggest—depending upon the geological make-up of the test site—a yield of 2-12 kT."

By comparison, the first plutonium-core bomb tested by the United States (Trinity test) had a yield of 20 kilotons of TNT, and the first nuclear device detonated by India in 1974, though of primitive design, had a yield in the region of 12 kilotons of TNT.

If the North Korean device has fallen significantly short of its predicted yield, it could be classified as a fizzle, indicating that some aspect of the nuclear weapon design or material production did not function correctly. In plutonium-based weapons this can result from predetonation, insufficient precision in the explosive lenses used to compress the plutonium core, or impurities in the plutonium itself, among other factors.

Test site location

The site vs. 50-year predictions, according to USGS, indicating the improbability of the detected blast being due to natural causes.

According to South Korean government sources, the test was carried out at Hwadae-ri, near the city of Kilchu, in North Hamgyŏng province on the northeast coast.

The United States Geological Survey reported that a seismic event occurred at 01:35:27 UTC (10:35:27 a.m. local time, UTC+9) on October 9 2006 and measured 4.2 on the Richter scale. It occurred at the geographic coordinates 41°17′38.4″N 129°08′2.4″E with a horizontal location uncertainty of ±10.5 km. This is 70 km (45 miles) north of Kimchaek, 90 km (55 miles) southwest of Chongjin, 180 km south of Yanji, and 385 km (240 miles) northeast of Pyongyang.

International reaction

Asia

• Cambodia: Information Minister Khieu Kanharith has stated that Cambodia opposes North Korea's decision to conduct its first nuclear weapons test and has asked other nations to react diplomatically to the situation. Mr. Kanharith also said the United States should officially declare that it will not invade North Korea.
• People's Republic of China: The Chinese Foreign Ministry released an official televised statement, also reported in the official news agency Xinhua, "The DPRK ignored universal opposition of the international community and flagrantly conducted the nuclear test. The Chinese government is resolutely opposed to it."
• India: The Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that they "are deeply concerned at the reported nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". The statement also said that India was "monitoring the situation" and in close contact with several unspecified nations over the issue.
• Japan: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, who was in Seoul for talks on the nuclear crisis, said information still needed to be analyzed to determine whether North Korea truly conducted the test. Abe later called for a "calm yet stern response." Kyodo News agency reported that the Japanese government has set up a taskforce in response to reports of the test. Abe later said the tests were "absolutely unacceptable."
• Philippines: President Arroyo condemned the tests, calling it a threat to the economic and political stability of East Asia. She also mentioned that it undermined several threats, including the United Nation Security Council Resolution 1965, the principles of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum and the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement on the Denuclearizarion of the Korean Peninsula.

  Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo called on North Korean leaders to return back to the talks at once. He also denounced the tests as a threat to the peace and security of Asia.

  In addition, Overseas Filipino Workers in South Korea were found to be safe even if North Korea had conducted its covert nuclear test.

• Singapore: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore called the nuclear test "a rash and dangerously provocative act".
• South Korea: President Roh Moo-hyun has convened an urgent meeting of advisors, according to Yonhap news agency. The South Korean seismic monitoring center has confirmed a 3.58 magnitude tremor at the time of the test. The South Korean military has also since raised its alert level. See also: 2006 South Korean Declaration against North Korean Nuclear Tests.
• Republic of China (Taiwan): The Government of the Republic of China has expressed fears that North Korea's nuclear test could trigger an arms race and undermine regional security. Michel Lu, a spokesman with the Foreign ministry said that Taiwan "fears the nuclear test might trigger an arms race and proliferation of nuclear weapons, thus undermining the security and welfare of people in the Northeast Asian region".

Europe

• European Union: The European Union presidency said in a statement that "This test profoundly jeopardises regional stability and represents a severe threat to international peace and security." Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the Commissioner for External Relations, stated that the EU have no plans to cut humanitarian aid to North Korea but stressed the tests were "unacceptable". She also reiterated calls by the EU Presidency for North Korea to return to the six-nation talks and halt all testing of nuclear devices.
• France: French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has condemned the tests, saying they are "a very grave act for international security."
• Germany: German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the test "jeopardises peace and security in the region and beyond. [The test pushes North Korea] further down the wrong path, to self-imposed isolation."
• Norway: Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that Norway's reaction to the North Korean nuclear test was that they condemned it, and pleaded for the case to be brought to the UN Security Council. He also said that they warned about the matter weeks before the test, even to North Korean UN diplomats, and that their nuclear test is a dangerous escalation, as the other nuclear powers had agreed not to detonate nuclear weapons.
• Russia: Russian president Vladimir Putin said at the customary Monday meeting with Cabinet members that “Russia unconditionally condemns the test made by the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea. It is not only North Korea that really counts, but the tremendous harm caused to the regime of WMD non-proliferation in the world.”
• Spain: Foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos has said that the test is a "serious provocation".
• Sweden: Foreign minister Carl Bildt released a statement saying that the test was a "serious provocation directed at the international community".
• Switzerland: The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs announced that "Switzerland condemns the test as counter to international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world and as a threat to the security of the region."
• United Kingdom: The Foreign Office released a statement in which the test was described as "a highly provocative act" which would "raise tensions in an already tense region." Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was a "completely irresponsible act".

Middle East

• Iran: Iranian State Radio stated that "North Korea's nuclear test was a reaction to America's threats and humiliation."

North America

• Canada: In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper used sharp language Monday to condemn the test, calling it an "irresponsible and dangerous act." He warned that it seriously undermines both regional peace and stability, and global efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. However, Mr. Harper said Canada will continue to work with the United Nations Security Council to address what he terms “the risks to Northeast Asia and beyond caused by the North Korean nuclear test." Foreign Minister Peter MacKay expressed concern, stating "It's premature in terms of what the formal reaction will be, but we view this matter as extremely serious."
• United States: U.S. intelligence agencies have confirmed that a test has occurred, but are presently looking into the situation. Tony Snow, President George W. Bush's White House Press Secretary, said that the United States would now go to the United Nations to determine "what our next steps should be in response to this very serious step." President Bush stated in a televised speech Monday morning that North Korea's claim of a test is a "provocative act" and that the United States condemns this act. President Bush also stated that the United States is "committed to diplomacy" but will "continue to protect [America] and [America's] interests."

Oceania

• Australia: Prime Minister John Howard and Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer condemned North Korea's actions during parliamentary question time. Howard said that North Korea should be condemned in the strongest possible terms for undertaking a nuclear test, and that Australia will press for United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

• New Zealand: Prime Minister Helen Clark in a statement said that, "North Korea should have no illusion of the gravity with which the international community views its action." While Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters described North Korea's actions as "unpardonable and irrational," he also stated that "this is a time for cool heads and we urge all parties to refrain from acts which may add to a further deterioration of the situation."

United Nations

• United Nations: The United Nations Security Council will meet on Monday in New York to discuss the issue. All five veto-wielding permanent members, including China, North Korea's most supportive ally, have condemned the nuclear test. Wang Guangya, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations had earlier stated that "no one is going to protect North Korea" if it engages in "bad behaviour".

• International Atomic Energy Agency: The IAEA issued a statement saying that the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei "deeply regrets, and expresses serious concern, about the reported carrying-out of a nuclear test earlier today by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," and that it "threatens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and creates serious security challenges not only for the East Asian region but also for the international community." ElBaradei emphasized the affront caused by violating the de facto worldwide ban against nuclear testing which had existed for almost a decade before the North Korean test, and emphasized the need for all countries to enter into the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

NATO

• NATO: The NATO military alliance published a statement saying that it "condemns in the strongest terms possible the North Korean nuclear weapon test. This test poses an extremely serious threat to peace and security in the Pacific region and the world." The alliance wants North Korea to return to the six-party talks.

Nongovernmental

• The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament declared that all nuclear weapon states were irresponsible, and called on North Korea and other nuclear states to eliminate their nuclear weapons. Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said:

“There is no such thing as a ‘responsible nuclear weapons state’ as North Korea claims. It is irresponsible and morally repugnant for any state to produce and possess weapons capable of indiscriminately killing hundreds of thousands of people. We call on all nuclear weapons states to begin negotiations towards disarmament, as required under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

Economic effects

There were negative economic effects as South Korea's KOSPI index fell 2.4 percent to 1319.4. The Korea Exchange suspended trading for five minutes upon receiving the news. The Japanese and Taiwan stock exchanges were closed for a market holiday on the day of the test. The Japanese yen also fell to a seven-month low against the United States dollar while oil on the world market rose above US$60 a barrel.. Gold prices rose 1% as a safe haven investment. Several stock markets in Asia from Singapore to Manila have traded low possibly due to tests.

American stock markets are mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down for the day; however, the Dow has not been down more than 0.3%.

Chronology of events

• 9 October 2006: North Korea claims it has conducted a nuclear test
• 4 October 2006: North Korea says it will test a nuclear weapon in the future
• 18 August 2006: North Korea reportedly planning nuclear bomb test
• 20 September 2005: Nuclear arms agreement reached with North Korea
• 17 July 2005: North Korea has no further interest in negotiations with United States
• 12 July 2005: North Korea declares it has nuclear weapons; cancels talks
• 2 July 2005: No resolution in North Korean nuclear stalemate
• 2 July 2005: Iran, North Korea, USA blamed in failure of month-long Non-Proliferation Treaty conference

See also

• North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
• North Korean-American relations
• Nuclear testing and nuclear weapons yield have information on other first tests
• North Korean Missile Test (2006)

External links

• USGS Earthquake Details
• Position (according to USGS) at google maps
• Possible site with google maps
• Military history of the Chik-Tong area
• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament