South Korea's government is aware North Korea may be preparing to conduct a second nuclear explosion, after a report said U.S. satellites picked up activity at the site of the country's first test last week.
The South Korean government is aware of the signs of activity, a government official who declined to be identified said today by phone in Seoul when asked about the report from Washington by ABC News.
U.S. spy satellites picked up vehicle movements close to the site of North Korea's nuclear test last week, a sign the country may be preparing a second underground blast, ABC News reported, citing unidentified U.S. intelligence officials.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged North Korea not to carry out another nuclear test, saying it would only bring further isolation to the Stalinist state, after sanctions were imposed following the country's first test last week. The U.S. yesterday confirmed the test was nuclear.
"We're watching it,'' Rice told reporters at the State Department yesterday before a trip to Asia this week when asked about the possibility of a second detonation. "I would hope they would not take such a provocative act.''
The United Nations Security Council voted 15-0 on Oct. 14 for a resolution that bars the sale or transfer of missiles, warships, tanks, attack helicopters and combat aircraft, as well as missile- and nuclear-related goods to the North Korean government. It demands an end to further tests and calls for UN member nations to conduct "inspection of cargo'' going to or from North Korea.
Rice said she would discuss with allies this week during her trip how to best implement the resolution's inspection provisions, including setting up a "a practical architecture'' for screening. The U.S. expects China to carry out the provisions of the sanctions resolution, she said.
The U.S. notified South Korea on Oct. 14 it had detected evidence of radioactivity after the claims by North Korea it conducted a nuclear test. The Security Council on Oct. 14 unanimously imposed sanctions following the test.