The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 3

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 5

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 7

    The ethical issues of AI: fighting the right battles

  • 9

    Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.

  • 11

    Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy

  • 13

    LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco

  • 15

    An American high school experience in Seoul

  • 17

    AI reliance could undermine financial market stability: report

  • 19

    TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion

  • 2

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 4

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 6

    Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory

  • 8

    Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation

  • 10

    Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party

  • 12

    Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars

  • 14

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 16

    Russian FM to visit Pyongyang next month as follow-up to Kim-Putin summit

  • 18

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 20

    Korea's Choi In-jeong wins gold in women's individual epee fencing

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, September 26, 2023 | 02:24
South Korea Condemns NK’s 2nd Nuke Test
Posted : 2009-05-25 18:21
Updated : 2009-05-25 18:21
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

President Lee Myung-bak scratches his forehead after hearing a report that North Korea carried out another nuclear test, during a meeting with Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday.
/ Korea Times Photo
by Sohn Yong-seok
North Also Test-Fires 3 Missiles

By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

North Korea said it conducted a second underground nuclear test "successfully" Monday, about a month after it threatened to resume nuclear and missile testing to protest the UN condemnation of its April 5 rocket launch.

On the same day, the North also test-fired three short-range surface-to-air missiles from a military base near a site where the nuclear test was presumed to have been conducted, South Korea's presidential office said.

Immediately after the test was confirmed, the government said it agreed with Japan to ask the U.N. Security Council to deal more sternly with the Stalinist regime and was also talking with China and Russia, the North's allies, to prepare countermeasures. Cheong Wa Dae issued a statement to denounce the experiment while President Lee Myung-bak ordered the military to strengthen defense readiness at an emergency security meeting.

Pyongyang didn't say where the test was conducted, but the South's geological agency said it detected an earthquake measuring magnitude 4.5 at 9:54 a.m. Monday at the North's northeastern village of Punggye-ri where the first test took place in October 2006.

Intelligence sources said an earthquake with a 3.8 magnitude was reported in 2006, but this time the explosion was stronger, indicating the North's nuclear technology has advanced despite international denuclearization efforts. Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee, however, told at a hastily convened hearing of Defense Committee lawmakers that it was early to call Pyongyang a ``nuclear power.''


``The Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25,'' the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. ``The test helped settle the scientific and technological problems and increase the power of nuclear weapons.

``The nuclear technology will help us not only bolster nuclear deterrent for self-defense, but also strengthen peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas,'' the announcement said.

Cheong Wa Dae condemned the North and said it would work closely with the international community to counter the nuclear provocation. President Lee convened a meeting of the National Security Council shortly after the test was reported. North Korea had informed the United States and China about the second nuke test, a source from the presidential office said.

``Lee expressed disappointment at the North and instructed his Cabinet to strengthen defense readiness and security measures,'' presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.
``South Korea is working closely with other countries involved in the six-nation talks on the North's nuclear development ― the U.S., Japan, China and Russia ― to map out measures. It is needless to say the test is a grave security concern not only for neighboring countries, but for the whole world.''

Lee discussed the situation with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and the leaders of other allies in the afternoon. The South's plan to join the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led program aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, was not discussed at the security meeting, according to a presidential spokesperson.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he believed North Korea had already manufactured several nuclear bombs. The Pentagon in an annual defense report categorized the North as one of the nuclear powers in Asia, alongside China, India, Pakistan and Russia.

Last month, the six-member U.N. Security Council adopted a statement to denounce the April 5 launch of a long-range rocket and to impose sanctions.

In response, the North vowed to quit the six-party denuclearization talks and restore frozen nuclear facilities and expelled inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, who were monitoring its main Yongbyon nuclear facility.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
14 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey 4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey
2[PHOTOS] Harvest season arrives PHOTOSHarvest season arrives
3Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z
4SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea
5Homeplus' private brand products hit store shelves in Mongolia Homeplus' private brand products hit store shelves in Mongolia
6[EXCLUSIVE] Lawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapeesEXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees
7K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action
8LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system
9Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts
10Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrestMain opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
2K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling QuranK-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
3Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
4[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
5TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group