World

North Korea Is Reported to Conduct a Nuclear Test

by Babel-Fish | May 24, 2009 at 07:30 pm

236 views | 28 Recommendations | 7 comments

SEOUL, May 25 (Reuters) - North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a ruling party official as saying.

YTN Television quoted the South Korean weather agency as saying it detected a tremor indicating a test at 0054 GMT.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak had called an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers over the test, Yonhap said.

North Korea had recently said it would again test a nuclear device -- its first was in October 2006 -- in reaction to tightened international sanctions after it fired a long-range rocket in April.

News of the test hit South Korean financial markets, sending the main KOSPI share index down four percent in late morning trade, while the won dropped more than 1 percent against the dollar.

China will not be very pleased and I am interested at what they have to say about this latest piece of news. North Korea could start a new war to unite north and south Korea and having a strong nucleur threat could be a worry to all north Korea's neighbors. Including the Philippines where I live. But of course that would take time and maybe USA and China will deter such event by political guile?

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Babel-Fish

at 19:32 on May 24th, 2009

Rather worrying to those that live close to North Korea,

I wonder if its time for me to build a bomb shelter (tongue in cheek).

Uwe Paschen

at 20:32 on May 24th, 2009

Sorry I missed this post earlier Babel. We have two very good posting out with in minutes of each other on this issue, it would be nice if you could both work together on this.

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/breaking-news-north-korea-conducts-nuclear-test

Babel-Fish

at 21:07 on May 24th, 2009

Please refer to breaking-news-north-korea-conducts-nuclear-test as it now the center point for this breaking news story and applies more depth than the first news alert I have publish here.

Uwe Paschen

at 21:12 on May 24th, 2009

That is very generous of you Babel-Fish, Great team work you both show here. Thank you.

I wish we could merge the two post together and have you two appear together as authors and team on this issue.

Maybe, we will figure this one out still today.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 03:09 on May 25th, 2009

More background here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/24/AR2009052403054.html?wpisrc=newsletter

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 03:51 on May 25th, 2009

Read world reaction to the nuclear test here

lalith

at 07:02 on May 26th, 2009

North Korea in 1962 adopted the so-called 4 Military Lines, which called for the armament of the entire populace, the fortification of all the land, the conversion of all servicemen into cadre of the People's Army, and the modernization of the People's Army. according to Kim Il-Sung, this was achieved in 1978.

The Nuclear program was thought of, under the modernization of the People's Army. US was the sworn enemy of Kim Il-Sung. In veiled speech, he had mentioned that he wanted a nuclear capability so that his missiles could reach the US. In fact, his intercontinental missiles could reach some shore area of the US.

We should not only think of neighboring countries in this context. The rift between the US and North Korea has a long history, starting with the failed invasion of North Korea by General Sherman in an armed merchant ship. Reportedly, this ship got stuck in mud and it was destroyed by the Koreans.

These guys don't forgive or forget. Therefore, it is always better to be safe than sorry.