VOA
Sites by Language
Top Stories:
US, Afghanistan to Hold Talks with Taliban
G8 Summit Ends With Call for Syria Peace Talks
English Worldwide
English
voanews.com
Learning English
learningenglish.voanews.com
Eastern & Central Europe
Shqip
Zeriamerikes.com
Bosanski
vijestiglasaamerike.com
Ελληνικά
gr.voanews.com
Македонски
mk.voanews.com
Srpski
glasamerike.net
Українська
chastime.com
Eurasia
Հայերեն
amerikayidzayn.com
Azerbaijani
amerikaninsesi.org
ქართული
amerikiskhma.com
Русский
golos-ameriki.ru
Central Asia
O‘zbek
amerikaovozi.com
East & Southeast Asia
Burmese
burmese.voanews.com
粵語
voacantonese.com
中文
voachinese.com
Bahasa Indonesia
voaindonesia.com
ខ្មែរ
khmer.voanews.com
Khmer
voacambodia.com
한국어
voakorea.com
ລາວ
lao.voanews.com
ไทย
voathai.com
བོད་ཡིག
voatibetan.com
Tibetan
voatibetanenglish.com
Tiếng Việt
voatiengviet.com
South Asia
বাংলা
voabangla.com
دری
darivoa.com
پښتو
pashtovoa.com
وی او اې ډيوه ريډیو
voadeewaradio.com
اردو
urduvoa.com
Africa
Afaan Oromoo
voaafaanoromoo.com
አማርኛ
amharic.voanews.com
Français
lavoixdelamerique.com
Hausa
voahausa.com
Kinyarwanda
radiyoyacuvoa.com
Kirundi
radiyoyacuvoa.com
Ndebele
voandebele.com
Português
voaportugues.com
Shona
voashona.com
Soomaaliga
voasomali.com
Kiswahili
voaswahili.com
ትግርኛ
tigrigna.voanews.com
Zimbabwe
voazimbabwe.com
Middle East / North Africa
فارسی
ir.voanews.com
كوردی
dengiamerika.com
Kurdi
dengeamerika.com
Türkçe
amerikaninsesi.com
Latin America
Creole
voanouvel.com
Español
voanoticias.com
VOA
Log in
Sign up
Log out
Home
USA
Africa
Asia
Mideast
Europe
Science & Tech
Health
Entertainment
Economy
Programs
Audio menu
Live streams
Africa Live
Global Live
Music Mix
Latest Newscast
News
/
Asia
S. Korea, Japan Move to Bolster Defenses After North's Nuclear Test
Print
Comment (4)
Share:
South Korean protesters burn the pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an anti-North Korea rally following a nuclear test conducted by North Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, February 12, 2013.
Tweet
Related Articles
UN Security Council Condemns N. Korea Nuclear Test
Transcript of VOA Interview with Japanese Defense Minister
China Opposes N. Korean Nuclear Test
Wave of Condemnation Follows N. Korea Nuclear Test
TEXT SIZE
-
+
Steve Herman
February 12, 2013
SEOUL
— North Korea is being sharply criticized for conducting a third nuclear test Tuesday. The underground explosion is in defiance of previous United Nations Security Council resolutions that followed similar nuclear tests. One immediate result is tough talk by South Korea and Japan -- both U.S. allies -- about bolstering their defensive capabilities.
North Korean state media hail the nuclear test as a success, saying it "did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment."
A television announcer in Pyongyang says the country detonated a "miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force" than previous tests.
The location of the nuclear test site in North Korea.
x
The location of the nuclear test site in North Korea.
Analysts say that indicates North Korea may have set off a plutonium-fueled bomb, suitable to be placed atop a missile.
There has been speculation North Korea has been enriching uranium for use in its nuclear weapons.
North Korea is believed to have only enough plutonium for a small number of weapons. But a supply of domestically enriched uranium would allow it to have a larger nuclear arsenal.
Related video report by Jerome Socolovsky
Stakes High After Third North Korean Nuclear Test
✖
▶
||
■
12:00:00
/
-:--:--
🔇
🔉
⎚
▶
Download
Medium Quality(6.57 MB)
Low Quality(13.2 MB)
Japan and the United States have deployed aircraft with special equipment to collect radioactive gases. An analysis of those gases could determine what type of nuclear material was used.
South Korean officials say tremors recorded by seismographs around the world suggest the device has a yield of six to seven kilotons.
North Korean Nuclear Tests
2006
Carried out underground at Punggye-ri
Powered by plutonium
Released radioactive materials
2009
Carried out underground at Punggye-ri
Seismic signals were consistent with a nuclear test
Radioactive material was not detected
North Korea claimed an initial underground test in 2006, but some scientists contend that one might not have triggered a nuclear explosion. A second nuclear test North Korea claimed in 2009 had an estimated yield of two to seven kilotons. By comparison, the U.S. nuclear bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the final days of WWII in 1945 carried a yield of about 20 kilotons.
Chun Young-woo, South Korea's presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security, says Seoul is maintaining a high readiness posture amid concerns of more provocations by Pyongyang.
Chun says to protect South Korean people and property from North Korean nuclear and missile threats, the government is expanding its military capability. He explains that will include deploying missiles, as soon as feasible, that will be capable of hitting a target anywhere in North Korea.
Copies of an extra edition of a Japanese newspaper reporting North Korea's nuclear test are handed out to passers-by in Tokyo Feb. 12, 2013.
x
Copies of an extra edition of a Japanese newspaper reporting North Korea's nuclear test are handed out to passers-by in Tokyo Feb. 12, 2013.
Japan, which also has no diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, is feeling increasingly vulnerable as a potential target of a nuclear missile fired from North Korea.
In a VOA interview
just hours after the nuclear test, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera termed it a big threat not only to Japan, but all of East Asia.
The minister says Japan will need to bolster its defenses to counter such a threat, but the country's pacifist constitution prevents Japan from acquiring its own nuclear weapons and limits the scope of its forces. So, Onodera says, it is very important to strengthen the U.S.-Japan security alliance.
The two previous North Korean tests took place under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. This is the first such event ordered by his young son, Kim Jong Un, who succeeded his late father. It comes two months after North Korea launched a long-range rocket with a satellite into orbit.
That was also in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting Pyongyang from utilizing ballistic missile technology.
An extra edition of a Japanese newspaper was delivered reporting North Korea's nuclear test, in Tokyo, February 12, 2013.
South Korean protesters burn a North Korean flag following a report of the nuclear test conducted by North Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, February 12, 2013.
Japan Meteorological Agency's earthquake and tsunami observations division director Akira Nagai points to a spot on the map showing the quake center during a news conference in Tokyo, February 12, 2013.
South Korean soldiers check military fences as they patrol near the demilitarized zone separating North Korea from South Korea, in Paju, north of Seoul, February 12, 2013.
A screen grab of the Nuclear Test Facility site in North Korea, via Google Maps satellite view.
South Korean soldiers monitor computers at the Seoul train station following a report about a possible nuclear test conducted by North Korea, February 12, 2013.
A video grab from KCNA shows the Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket launching at North Korea's West Sea Satellite Launch Site, at the satellite control center in Cholsan county, North Pyongang province December 12, 2012.
North Koreans celebrate the successful launch of the Unha-3 rocket at Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang December 14, 2012. The sign reads: "Let's glorify dignity and honor of great people of Kim Il Sung and of Korea of Kim Jong Il in the world!"
◀
▶
⏪
▶
||
⏩
1/8
...
⇱
Disable Captions
Enable Captions
Steve Herman
A veteran journalist in Asia, Steven L Herman is the Voice of America bureau chief and correspondent based in Seoul.
You May Like
NASA Introduces New Astronaut Candidates
NASA says half appointees are women, making this highest percentage of female astronauts in one class
More
Singapore, Malaysia Choke as Illegal Indonesia Forest Fires Rage
Illegal clearing of forests by burning is a recurrent problem, particularly during annual dry season that stretches from June to September
More
Scandals Hit Obama's Standing With US Voters
Obama's approval rating fell eight percentage points over past month to 45 percent
More
This forum has been closed.
Comment Sorting
Latest First
Chronological
Comments
by:
Davis K. Thanjan
from:
New York
February 12, 2013 10:06 AM
Report Comment
The UN resolutions condemning North Korea for nuclear underground tests are of no avail. Increasing the defenses of South Korea and Japan does not stop the nuclear threat of North Korea. The security alliance of Japan-US also do not deter North Korean nuclear armament. The on and off six party talks is only helping North Korea to buy time for nuclear developments. China is the only country capable of restraining North Korea. Instead of focusing on North Korea, the countries threatened by North Korea should focus on restraining China.
Report Comment
Reason
*
Please enter the code shown on the image
In Response
by:
Truong Tiep
from:
Mississippi, USA
February 12, 2013 5:56 PM
Report Comment
I agree with Davis K. Thanjan. If we can restrain China looks like we cut off the head of the snake . All people in south east and far east asia knew this.
Report Comment
Reason
*
Please enter the code shown on the image
by:
Mark
from:
USA
February 12, 2013 9:46 AM
Report Comment
North Korea has been behaving like a bad neighbor in the international community. Several of the community members have decided not to trade with or assist them because of that.
I don't see how any rational nation can construe that as being a "hostile action against North Korea" or "nuclear war action" as North Korean media has reported. It is the right of every nation to decide who they want to do business with.
When North Korea becomes a good neighbor and a partner for peace in the region they'll get the respect they're seeking from the international community. Right now they (their leaders) are acting like spoiled brats.
If China is willing, it would seem like this is a great opportunity to show the world that they are ready to be leaders in modern geo-politics.
Report Comment
Reason
*
Please enter the code shown on the image
In Response
by:
Sherry Chen
from:
LA
February 12, 2013 12:16 PM
Report Comment
As people mentioned, N Korea acts as a bad neighbor of many countries, two of which are severely threaten should be China and S Korea. It is unwise to support N Korea developing any form of nuclear weapons from the view of chinese, since the distance of nuclear missile lauchers and Beijing is so short. A famous chinese saying goes "how can let a tiger sleep beside my bed?" By analysis of consequence of N korean unclear weapons producing, N korean can easily ask china for aid further by bully and threaten and get rid of chinese supervise.
Report Comment
Reason
*
Please enter the code shown on the image
Featured Videos
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Get the latest Flash player
.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Get the latest Flash player
.
Video
Egyptian Support for Syrian Opposition is Words Over Action
Egypt has further aligned itself with those trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But as VOA's Elizabeth Arrott reports from Cairo, it remains unclear how far Egypt will back its words with action.
More Asia News
Senior US General Encouraged by News of Taliban Talks
Security Transfer Sparks Pride, Concern Among Afghans
Taliban Opens Office for Talks with US, Afghan Government
Suicide Bombing Kills 27 in Pakistan
US Pressure on China Over Hacking to Remain
North Korea Offers Direct Talks with US
UN: Burma Should Address Needs of Rohingya Muslims
US, Afghanistan to Hold Talks with Taliban
Top North Korean Envoy in China for Talks
Most US Retailers Choose Not to Sign Bangladesh Factory Accord
More Articles
Blogs
Science World
US, Europe Could Collide to Form Supercontinent
4 hours ago
Scientists Discover How Marine Mammals Hold Their Breath for Long Periods
4 days ago
Simple Theory May Explain Dark Matter
7 days ago
The Student Union
How to Spend Your Summer as a Premed (Without Making Yourself Miserable)
8 hours ago
Over 300 Colleges Still Accepting Applications for the Fall
1 day ago
5 Free Online Events for International Students: June 16-22
4 days ago
USA Politics
High Stakes Immigration Debate
6 hours ago
Security versus Liberty
8 days ago
Obama’s Summer of Discontent
28 days ago
Most Viewed
Syria Conflict Exposes Old Rivalries at G8 Summit
Obama, Putin Agree to Disagree on Syria
Obama, Putin Agree to Disagree on Syria
NASA Introduces New Astronaut Candidates
Report: NSA Leaker Alleges British Spying on Diplomats
Most Emailed
Singapore, Malaysia Choke as Illegal Indonesia Forest Fires Rage
Does Egypt Face a New Revolution?
Gulf States to Launch Sanctions Against Hezbollah
Report: NSA Leaker Denies Contact with Chinese Government
Hope for Change in Iran Tempered With Caution
Most Discussed
Erdogan Says It Was His 'Duty' to Evict Protesters (16)
Hong Kongers Rally in Support of Snowden (12)
Turkey Warns It May Use Army to Quell Protests (10)
Obama to Speak With Putin on Syria at G8 Summit (9)
Iranian President-Elect Addresses Nation After Surprise Victory (9)