hankyoreh

At 11:57am on Feb. 12, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test, despite efforts by the international community to dissuade it. The Korea Central News Agency announced in the afternoon that the test went ahead successfully. The news agency reported that a smaller bomb was tested than in previous tests, but with a stronger force.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced the detection of tremors consistent with a man-made earthquake slightly north of the nuclear test site in Punggye Village. The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGMR) detected an earthquake that registered 4.9 on the Richter magnitude scale and an explosive yield of 7 kilotons, meaning the explosive appears to have used uranium or plutonium, not hydrogen.

A senior South Korean government official said, “There is a great possibility that North Korea conducted its third nuclear test. Yesterday they gave advanced notice to the US, China and Russia that the test would be conducted.” The South Korean government held an emergency meeting after receiving news of the test.

The 4.9 magnitude of this test continues the trend of increasing force in North Korea‘s nuclear tests. The first test, conducted in 2006, registered 3.6 on the Richter magnitude scale, followed by a test in 2009 that registered 4.5.

South Korea is currently head of the UN Security Council’s rotating leadership. The UN mission summoned all members to a meeting of the Security Council at 9am EST on Feb. 12 at UN headquarters in New York.

On Jan. 22, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2087, which contains a trigger clause. According to this clause, if North Korea moves to launch another rocket or conduct a nuclear test, the UNSC is supposed to respond automatically with significant action. Strong action by the council is therefore expected.

The USFK and the South Korean armed forces upgraded their alert state system, called WATCHCON, from level 3 to level 2 in anticipation of any additional provocation from North Korea.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]