North Korean flag seen from the Beijing embassy (UPI)
North Korea has repaired extensive rain damage at its nuclear test facility and could conduct a detonation on two weeks notice, a US think-tank said Friday, citing satellite imagery analysis.
With the UN Security Council debating possible sanctions against the North following the launch earlier this month of a long-range rocket, there has been widespread speculation that Pyongyang may carry out its third nuclear test.
Satellite photos as recent as December 13 show that Pyongyang is determined to maintain a state of readiness at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said.
Following heavy flooding earlier in the year that destroyed key infrastructure elements, the North has moved quickly to restore its ability to operate the complex, it said on its closely followed website 38 North.
“They continue to maintain the test site at a state of readiness that could allow them to conduct a detonation as soon as two weeks after such a decision is made,” the institute reported.
However, it noted a possible “wildcard” in the form of a stream of water that appears to be coming from the entrance of the south tunnel at the test facility.
The flow indicates a possible problem with seepage that could adversely affect a nuclear device and sensors intended to gather data and monitor the test.
“Whether this problem is under control or has been solved remains unclear,” it said.
The US and its allies have called for tough sanctions against Pyongyang for the rocket launch which they saw as a disguised ballistic missile test that violated UN sanctions imposed after the North‘s previous nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
Both of those tests were conducted in the wake of long-range missile launches.
The North’s only major ally and main economic supporter, China, is resisting any significant tightening of sanctions already in place.
However, analysts say another nuclear test would severely test Beijing‘s patience with its unpredictable neighbor. (AFP)
<관련 한글 기사>
북한, 또 '한방' 터뜨리나? 긴장 고조!
북한이 핵시설의 홍수 피해를 고침에 따라 2주안에 폭파실험을 감행할 수 있다고 미국의 싱크 탱크가 금요일 밝혔다.
국제연합안전보장이사회가 북한의 장거리 미사일 발사에 대한 제재에 대해 이야기 함에 따라 평양이 세번째 핵실험을 할 것이라는 의견이 팽배하다.
12월 13일에 공개된 위성사진에 의하면 풍계리에 핵실험 장소가 준비를 마친 것 같이 보인다고 미국 존스홉킨스의 한미연구소가 말했다.
올해 초에 있었던 심한 홍수로 인해 주요 시설 부품이 손상되었지만 북한은 시설물의 정상 운행을 위해 재빠르게 움직였다고 '38'노스'가 밝혔다.
하지만 핵실험 장소의 남쪽 터널에서 물줄기가 발견되면서 새로운 “와일드카드”가 나타났다.
“아무런 차질 없이 잘 진행되고 있는지는 아직 확실한 바가 없다,”고 싸이트는 말했다.
미국과 동맹국들은 평양의 로켓 장착이 미사일 실험으로 위장하고 있다고 주장하며 대북강경제재안을 내놓았다.
하지만 현재 북한의 유일한 동맹국인 중국은 북한에 대한 강경제재안을 거부하고 있다. 이에 대해 분석가들은 북한이 다시 한번 핵실험을 강행한다면, 중국 조차 예측할 수 없는 이웃국가를 불신하게 될 것이라고 밝혔다.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
