Move could spur shift in regional balance; a ‘provocative act’
North Korea said it will test a nuclear bomb, antagonizing its neighbors and the U.S. and deepening the international standoff over the country’s weapons program.
North Korea’s foreign ministry, announcing its plans yesterday in a statement distributed by the country’s official news agency, didn’t set a date for the test but said it would be conducted “in a condition where safety is firmly guaranteed.” U.S. intelligence sources said in mid-August that they detected activity, including the movement of large trucks and delivery of rolls of cabling, suggestive of bomb-test preparations at a mountain in northeast North Korea.
For several years, North Korea has said it has nuclear bombs. But amid some doubts as to its true weapons capabilities, a nuclear test would provide the first confirmation. In July, it test-fired seven missiles, including a long-range one designed to cross the Pacific Ocean that misfired. The launch led the United Nations’ Security Council to issue sanctions against North Korea.
Pyongyang said in its statement that the threat of nuclear war and sanctions from the U.S. force it to undertake a test. It added that its goal is “to settle hostile relations” between it and the U.S.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush sought to rally other countries to apply strong pressure on North Korea, while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the threat of a test “a very provocative act.”
In Nicaragua, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that “were they to test and were they to proliferate this technology, we’d be living…in a somewhat different world.” But Mr. Rumsfeld declined to speculate on any U.S. military preparations.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, said the U.S. would bring up North Korea’s actions within the Security Council, but declined to speculate on what action the U.N. might take. The emphasis, he said, was “to develop a coherent strategy to convince” the North Koreans “that it’s not in their interest to engage in nuclear testing.” The Security Council could move ahead on some sort of measure in coming days, but a most likely first step would be a statement rather than an actual resolution.
Japan was quick to react to Pyongyang’s bomb-test statement. “Japan and the world would definitely not tolerate a nuclear test” by North Korea, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in Tokyo. “If the test is carried out, I believe the international community would respond harshly.”
North Korea’s announcement came as Mr. Abe, who became prime minister last week, moves to repair relations with China and South Korea as part of his ambition to give Japan greater influence in regional affairs. He is scheduled to visit Beijing on Sunday and Seoul on Monday for summit meetings, according to a person familiar with the situation. Anofficial announcement of the dates for the meetings was expected today.
In Seoul, high-level South Korean officials met yesterday to refine a plan they had developed in recent weeks specifically in response to a possible nuclear test. President Roh Moo Hyun said last month that “if North Korea goes ahead with a nuclear testing, the situation will become a totally different one from what it has been.”
There was no immediate response from China, North Korea’s closest ally. A representative of the Chinese foreign ministry would say only that officials are “checking” news reports. But it is likely a North Korean nuclear test would anger Beijing. Chinese leaders worry that a successful testby NorthKoreawould lead Japan to build up its military capabilities and perhaps even consider developing its own nuclear weapons— something experts say Tokyo could probably do in less than a year, given its large plutonium stockpiles.
A test by North Korea would dramatically alter the balance of power in East Asia, where China is the only confirmed nuclear power.
“The security mood in Japan would be affected by a test, and the Chinese understand that,” said a senior U.S. official. It is unclear what pressure China might bring to bear on North Korea not to conduct its test or how it might punish dictator Kim Jong Il if it does.
North Korea has pushed to meet with the U.S. in two-way talks. But amid past broken agreements with Pyongyang, the U.S. insists on meeting North Korea’s leadership in broader arenas such as theU.N. or six nation talks that include the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and itself.
The six-way talks over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions broke down in November when the North refused to further participate, citing financial restrictions theU.S. imposed on a bank that allegedly assisted Pyongyang in illegal activities. The U.S. says the amount of money involved is too small to be the only reason the North has shunned talks.