The Hindu : International : North Korea blast shrouded in mystery

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

International

International

North Korea blast shrouded in mystery

SEOUL, SEPT. 12. A large explosion occurred in the northern part of North Korea, sending a huge column of smoke into the air on an important anniversary of the communist regime, a South Korean news agency reported on Sunday.

The South Korean Government said it was trying to confirm the report of an explosion at 11 a.m. (local time) on Thursday in Yanggang province near the border with China.

The Yonhap news agency carried reports from unidentified sources, with one in Washington saying the incident could be related to a natural disaster such as a forest fire. It also cited a diplomatic source in Seoul as raising the possibility of an accident or a nuclear test.

Yonhap later quoted Kim Jong-min, spokesman for South Korea's presidential office, as saying: ``Currently, we are trying to find out in detail the exact character, cause and size of the accident, but we don't think North Korea conducted a nuclear test.''

`Nuclear test unlikely'

Although North Korea is believed to be developing nuclear weapons, international experts would likely have been able to detect the test if one had occurred. ``We understand that a mushroom-shaped cloud about 3.5- to 4-km in diameter was monitored during the explosion,'' the source in Seoul said.

The agency also quoted an unidentified Government official as saying there was seismic activity related to two blasts in North Korea.

Thursday was the anniversary of North Korea's founding on September 9, 1948. Leader Kim Jong-Il uses the occasion to stage performances and other events to bolster loyalty among the population. Experts have speculated that North Korea might use a major anniversary to conduct a nuclear-related test, but one analyst said an open test, as opposed to one below ground, would be difficult in such a small country. — AP

Sridhar Krishnaswami writes from Washington:

The Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said that the blast was not nuclear but the United States did not know yet what the cause was. "There was no indication that it was a nuclear event of any kind. Exactly what it was, we're not sure," he said.

According to reports citing American intelligence officials, there had been signs of activity and the analysts believed North Korea was preparing for its first test explosion of a nuclear weapon. Other experts were cautious in their analysis but said the developments were a worrisome phenomenon.

Mr. Powell said the United States had been monitoring activities at a "potential" nuclear test site. "We can't tell whether it is normal maintenance activity or something more. So it is inconclusive at the moment, but we continue to monitor these things very carefully," he said.

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