According to its analysis of recent satellite images of North Korea’s nuclear test site in Pungkye-ri, Kilju, North Hamkyung Province taken by IHS Jane’s, a Japanese newspaper claimed yesterday the possibility of a third nuclear test.
The newspaper, Sankei Shimbun, claims that the images show that tunnels have been excavated in the area where North Korea implemented its first two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009.
On an October 27 image, at a site around 150m south of the nuclear test site, around 3,000 cubic meters of earth and rocks are visible, with traces of excavation discovered at two further sites around 180m north of the test site.
However, these moves have been seen elsewhere. In mid-October, an official inside the administration also claimed that there had been active movements of vehicles and people in the area around Pungkye-ri.
However, experts on North Korea interpret the actions mostly as a ploy through which to confront the indifference of the U.S. and South Korea to North Korean efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks without recognizing its responsibility for sinking the Cheonan.
The first nuclear test was also utilized by the North’s regime to break through financial sanctions imposed by the Bush administration, and the second to shore up internal instability caused by Kim Jong Il’s health problems and Kim Jong Eun’s succession.
On this, a professor from Korean National Defense University, Kim Yeon Su told The Daily NK, “A third nuclear test would damage the reputation of China, which has taken care of North Korea, and cause troubles for the soft landing of the Kim Jong Eun succession system.”
Professor Kim interpreted, “It seems to be a tactic to form the public opinion that negotiations can cease the North’s expanding of its nuclear ability.”
However, a nuclear test would show both domestically and internationally that Kim Jong Eun plans to continue the Military-first politics of his father.
According to Korea Economic Research Institute Lee Chun Geun, “In order to become a nuclear state, North Korea needs to show fully its nuclear ability to the U.S,” since the previous two tests were not sufficient to display their nuclear capacity, and it is necessary “to set Kim Jong Eun’s political position.”
