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Tue, March 2, 2021 | 14:47
Speculation about NK's nuclear test growing
국방부 "北 풍계리 핵실험장 일대서 다수 활동 감지"
Posted : 2014-04-22 19:07
Updated : 2014-04-22 21:48
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By Chung Min-uck

Speculation is mounting about another North Korean nuclear test as heightened activity has been detected at the country's underground nuclear test site.

"Many activities are currently being seen at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site," said Kim Min-seok, spokesman of Ministry of National Defense, Tuesday. "The North can launch a sneak nuclear test in a short period of time."

But the defense ministry also raised the possibility the move might be a strategy by North Korea to "deceive other countries with what appears to be a nuclear test" to gain political advantage.

The comments come as United States President Barack Obama is set to visit South Korea Friday and Saturday as part of his Asia trip, which also includes stops in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Separate from whether North Korea would actually carry out its fourth nuclear test, experts interpret increased activities at its northeastern Punggye-ri site as Pyongyang trying to gain a diplomatic upper hand ahead of Obama's Asia trip.

Washington and Seoul have rejected talks on resuming political and economic exchanges with the reclusive regime following the North refusal to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Reflecting its frustration, the North threatened last month to conduct a "new form" of atomic test, which experts say could mean the use of a uranium-based device.

Its previous nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 are believed to have involved the use of plutonium.

On Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry further warned that Obama's trip to South Korea could "escalate confrontation and bring the dark clouds of a nuclear arms race."

Recently, the North has made remarks claiming to be preparing something "unimaginable" for its enemies and "something big" this month, according to the spokesman.

A crisis management task force was set up between the defense ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday to prepare for all eventualities, according to defense minstry.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Tuesday warned North Korea against a new nuclear test. "If North Korea goes ahead with another nuclear test as it has publicly warned, it will be a game-changer," said Yun in his opening speech at a global forum hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, a Seoul-based private think tank.

"The international community will not tolerate North Korea's nuclear weapons," the foreign minister said. "We urge Pyongyang to choose the right path. North Korea is only playing an unwinnable game against the international community."


국방부 "北 풍계리 핵실험장 일대서 다수 활동 감지"

''30일 이전 큰일 날것', '큰 한방 준비중' 언급 北서 나와'
'北 기습적 핵실험 가능…기만 가능성도 염두'…軍, TF 가동


국방부는 22일 '북한의 풍계리 핵실험장에서 다수의 활동이 감지되고 있다'면서 북한의 4차 핵실험 가능성이 높아지고 있음을 밝혔다.

김민석 국방부 대변인은 이날 정례브리핑에서 북한의 핵실험 준비 동향에 대해 '구체적인 내용은 정보사항이라서 밝히기 곤란하지만 현재 많은 활동들이 보이고 있다'면서 이같이 말했다.

국방부와 합동참모본부는 21일 오전 9시부로 북한의 4차 핵실험 가능성에 대비한 통합위기관리 태스크포스(TF) 가동에 들어갔다.

김 대변인은 '북한이 단기간 내에 기습적으로 핵실험을 할 수가 있다'면서 '또 과거 사례에서 보듯이 핵실험을 위장한 기만일 가능성도 우리 군은 염두를 두고 있다'고 밝혔다.

특히 김 대변인은 ''적들이 상상하기도 힘든 다음 단계 조치를 취할 준비를 하고 있다', '4월30일 이전에 큰일이 일어날 것이다', '큰 한 방을 준비하고 있다' 등의 언급이 북한에서 나오고 있다'고 전했다.

군 당국은 북한 내부에서 흘러나오는 이런 언급을 다양한 첩보 수단을 통해 입수한 것으로 알려졌다.

김 대변인은 풍계리 핵실험장에서의 ▲ 지진파 탐지 등 계측장비 설치 ▲ 계측장비와 지상통제소 간 통신케이블 연결 ▲ 갱도 되메우기 등 북한의 핵실험 임박 징후와 관련, '그런 (임박) 수준에 와 있다고 보면 된다'며 '여러 가지 준비가 많이 돼 있는 것으로 알고 있다'고 전했다.

그는 '북한은 언제든지 결정만 하면 기습적으로 핵실험을 할 수 있는 단계에 있다'며 '국방부와 합참은 북한의 핵실험 대비 군사대비태세를 강화하기 위해서 어제 오전 9시부터 국방부-합참 통합위기관리 TF를 가동했다'고 설명했다.

TF는 소장급을 단장으로 국방부와 합참의 주요 직위자로 구성됐다.

김 대변인은 '지금 현재 북한 핵실험에 대비한 군사대비태세가 강화돼 있는 상태로 국방부와 합참은 24시간 북한 핵실험에 대비하고 있다'며 '한미는 북한 핵실험 가능성에 대해서 긴밀하게 정보공유를 하고 있고, 대비태세를 갖추고 있다'고 강조했다.

군 당국은 북한이 버락 오바마 미국 대통령의 25일 방한을 앞두고 기만전술을 구사하고 있을 가능성도 염두에 두고 있다.

군의 한 관계자는 '북한은 과거 핵실험 때도 준비를 마쳐놓고 지연 전술을 구사하거나 위장막 등으로 기만전술을 편 적이 있다'며 '지연전술 혹은 기만전술을 펼 가능성에도 대비하고 있다'고 밝혔다.
Emailmuchung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
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