 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
N Korean event near 2006 nuclear test site: UN-backed group
Vienna (AFP) May 25, 2009 The "event" North Korea says was a nuclear test Monday measured 4.5 on the Richter scale and was within a couple of kilometres of a previous test in October 2006, a UN-backed group said. But the preparatory committee for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation could not yet determine whether the event had "a nuclear background," the organisation's executive secretary, Tibor Toth, told a news briefing. According to a network of monitoring stations set up by CTBTO -- called the International Monitoring System (IMS) -- "the event happened at 0054 GMT," Toth said. CTBTO has some 340 facilities around the world as part of its verification regime to monitor any signs of nuclear explosions. The data so far had indicated it was "very, very close to the 2006 event," he said. "We are locating the event a couple of kilometres away from the previous test site. The latitude is 41.289 North and the longitude is 129.048 East." The event did not appear to be deep below the earth's surface. "It's a very close-to-surface type of event. The magnitude of it is 4.5 on the Richter scale." By comparison, the previous test in October 2006 had a magnitude of around 4.1, Toth said. Asked what size of nuclear detonation would be needed to cause an event of that magnitude, Toth replied: "What we understand is, it's in the low kilo-tonne range, for this particular magnitude." In all, 39 seismic stations around the world connected to the IMS had registered the event. CTBTO was waiting for additional information on radionuclide noble gases to determine whether the event might be of nuclear origin and this would take more time because it depended on meteorological conditions, Toth said. "It's dependent on how quickly noble gas stations are reached by any noble gas or radionuclide particles that may have been released," he said. "It would take at least two days for closest stations to be reached and the farther we go, the more time it takes." The radionuclide noble gas data were "relevant to identify whether an event has any nuclear origin or not, whether it has anything to do with the nuclear test explosions," he said. It was not up to the CTBTO itself to judge whether an event was indeed of nuclear origin, but member states, Toth pointed out. "What we are providing is the most up-to-date information" on which the member states could then make such a judgement. Toth refused to speculate about Pyongyang's motivation for its latest move, but insisted it was "the wrong step in the wrong direction." Earlier, Toth said the move "constitutes a threat to international peace and security and to the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime" and should be "universally condemned". "I am gravely concerned by this action ... (it) underlines the urgency of the entry into force of the CTBT and the necessity of putting an end to all nuclear explosions for all time." The CTBT has been signed by 180 countries, but to come into effect it still needs ratification by nine key holdouts including China, North Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States. Earlier this year, US President Barack Obama said his administration "will immediately and aggressively pursue US ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty" and supporters of the treaty, which was concluded in 1996, hope that will persuade other countries to follow suit. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
NKorea, land of hunger, made nukes prioritySeoul (AFP) May 25, 2009 North Korea, which said Monday it had tested both a nuclear device and a short-range missile, has defiantly pursued its atomic ambitions even though it is unable to feed its own people. The country suffered famine for several years starting in 1995 which killed hundreds of thousands of people and left survivors subsisting on leaves, tree bark and whatever else they could find. Floods, fo ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook