“North Korea’s failure on rocket launch will accelerate its 3rd nuclear test”
As North Korea’s rocket launch appears to end in failure on the 13th,there are rising concerns over when North Korea will conduct its third nuclear test.
Experts say that North Korea will conduct nuclear test earlier than expected, as a make up for the failure of its rocket launch. Some claim that North Korea will in advance test the performance of projectile processes for external, political purposes.
In particular, experts predict that North Korea would go ahead with its third nuclear test as an excuse for having received sanctions from the international community on their failed rocket launch.
Shin Sung Taek a visiting Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification said “If the United States and the international community strengthen its sanctions on North Korea, then they will accelerate their plan on nuclear test”
Also, Chun Sung Hoon Researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification also predicted “North Korea will accelerate its nuclear test to make up for its launch failure.”
North Korea will conduct its third nuclear test after experimenting the capacity of the ‘warheard-carrier’ of the rocket.
North Korea previously conducted nuclear tests 3 to 5 months after the two long-range rocket launch in 2006 and 2009 respectively.
Analysis from U.S. commercial satellite images concluded that there were signs of third nuclear test under progress. “North Korea has virtually completed preparations for a nuclear test” Shin explained.
It is interpreted that, there would be technical and political reasons why North Korea must conduct nuclear test after the rocket launch.
Some point out that by improving the carrying-capacity of warhead and activating a miniaturization of it, North Korea can put pressure on the United States and gain status as a nuclear power state.
If North Korea succeeds in developing a long-range missile that could reach the American continent it would be used as a bargaining chip to defeat international sanctions.
Some speculators assert the possibility of other forms of provocations in addition to nuclear testing. U.S.-South Korea military authorities are watching closely for any additional military provocations and nuclear testing, as well as closely tracking current situations in Dongchan provice and Punggye province.
Since North Korea’s rocket launch, President Lee Myung-bak convened an Emergency Foreign Affairs and Security Ministers Meeting to discuss in depth, the recent trends of North Korea’s third nuclear testing.
“The United States will monitor additional North Korea’s provocations and will faithfully contribute to the security of regional alliance” The White House claimed on the 13th.
Jung Sung Jang Researcher at Sejong Institute asserted “If the international community push for sanctions on its failed rocket launch, North Korea will launch provocation as a protest, that will increase the level of military tensions in the Korean Peninsula”
