Images suggest North Korea ready for nuke test

January 26, 2013 01:05

Recent satellite photos show North Korea could be almost ready to carry out its threat to conduct a nuclear test, a US research institute said today.

The images of the Punggye-ri site where nuclear tests were conducted in 2006 and 2009 reveal that over the past month roads have been kept clear of snow and that North Koreans may have been sealing the tunnel into a mountainside where a nuclear device would be detonated.

But it remains difficult to discern North Korea's true intentions as a test would be conducted underground.

The analysis was provided to The Associated Press by 38 North, the website of US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. The latest image was taken Wednesday.

North Korea's powerful National Defense Commission declared its plans yesterday after the UN Security Council tightened sanctions in response to a December long-range rocket launch. It described it as part of a "new phase" of combat with the United States, which retains 28,000 troops in South Korea and which it blames for leading the UN bid to punish Pyongyang.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

EPL: Arsenal stun United; reignite title hopes

Arsenal reclaim provisional top spot with 1-0 win at Man United

In Pictures - 5 in a row! RCB thrash DC to stay alive

Images from the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.

Only 12% of LS candidates in fray in phase 5 are women: ADR

The representation of women in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls continues to remain dismally low, as only about 12 percent of the candidates in the fray in the fifth phase are female, according to an analysis by poll rights body ADR.

One more Indian-origin held in Canada's CAD 22.5 mn gold, cash heist

The gold and currency had arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland, to Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

Shock at Italian Open: Tabilo upsets Djokovic

Tabilo broke the top seed four times on Centre Court while not conceding a single break point.