BREAKING: Reuters, UN Security Council official

[nadinbrzezinski]

Confirms nuclear test in North Korea.



Story on CNN. http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGMuU9AwM/2013/02/12/united-nations-security-council-diplomat-says-there-has-been-a-nuclear

More via BBC.

The US Geological Survey said it had detected a tremor with a 4.9 magnitude.

South Korean media also reported a "man-made earthquake" in its northern neighbour.

North Korea said last month it was planning to carry out its third nuclear test - despite a threat from the UN Security Council of "consequences".

The USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 1km. It put the epicentre close to North Korea's known nuclear test site in the northeast of the country.

China's Earthquake Administration described it as a "suspected explosion", AFP reported. Japan's Meteorological Agency said the tremor was "different from a normal earthquake".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21421841

Link to Reuters live blog.

http://live.reuters.com/Event/North_Korea

Significant, South Korea has raised alert from DEFCON 3 to DEFCON 2.

[DJ13]

1. EXPLOSION?

Not a launch?

[pinboy3niner]

2. Report says nuclear TEST. nt

[DJ13]

4. Ah, okay

Whew!

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. And it is just breaking

[quinnox]

6. it was a test

sounds like underground nuclear test. You really thought they had launched a nuke?

[DJ13]

8. Not launched so much as had an accident

[quinnox]

12. ah

[Catherina]

20. Why do you think that?

Apparently, they announced this weeks ago and S. Korea believe it was that third test they announced. Just curious. Thanks

[davidpdx]

41. Yes, South Korea and the US had intelligence that they believed there was going to be a test

The only thing they didn't know is when.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. According to the news both the US and China

Were informed by North Korea.

What else are these two? Oh yeah, permanent security council members.

[davidpdx]

56. They've had satellite photos of the area before the bomb was detonated

Both the US and South Korea have known North Korea was going to test the bomb, just not when. It was all over the news in late December and January.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. It was not an accident

But the announced underground nuclear test. Very technically they did have an explosion, but it was not accidental.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. BBC s clear, underground nuclear test.

[freshwest]

33. Maybe they fracked near a fault line... Just sayin'

[Catherina]

3. Details please n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Just breaking. A South Korean official is on CNN

Saying that this might be a miniaturized warhead. Assume fr a second it's true...this is bad news as it means they could potentially put it on a warhead.

Take this with the mandatory grain of salt...size here optional.

[Catherina]

19. Thanks. What interesting times we live in eh? n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Added the Reuters live blog

Can we go back to boring times? This Chinese curse s really not that hip

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. The weapon IS the warhead. n/t

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. the link calls it a "test", not "explosion" (that word implies an accident). n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Corrected.

[NRaleighLiberal]

14. thanks!

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Added BBC data

CNN back to normal programing.

[hrmjustin]

10. God help us!

[think]

17. Meet the new Kim. Same as the old Kim ..../nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Something like that

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Love just how crisis evolve

8:39 PMSteve Herman @W7VOA
#ROK defense ministry spokesman says #DPRK "presumed" to have conducted #nuclear test today. #Korea

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Yay...no really.

(And I get it too)

Japan will consider its own sanctions against North Korea which has appeared to have conducted a nuclear test, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday.

[amandabeech]

43. Didn't the North Koreans shoot a missile over or very near Japan?

If I were Japanese, I'd be concerned.

Between the North Koreans and the Chinese threatening an attack on a Japanese-held Island, Japan looks to have its hands full.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. Yup

And if this is a smaller warhead with a higher yield, NK might be reaching that capability.

[amandabeech]

46. Let's hope that they reach sanity before they reach capability. n/t

[Catherina]

26. LBN: S. Korean Defense Ministry Confirms DPRK Nuclear Ttest

Purveyor just posted this

S. Korean Defense Ministry Confirms DPRK Nuclear Ttest


SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Defense Ministry confirmed that the DPRK has conducted a nuclear test, a local TV reported on Tuesday.

The confirmation came after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake was detected in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a potential sign that the country conducted its third nuclear test.

According to Yonhap, the earthquake was detected at 11:57 local time (0257 GMT) in the DPRK's Kilju County, North Hamkyung Province, where a nuclear test site is located.

Related:

Magnitude 5.1 artificial quake detected in DPRK-Yonhap

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- S. Korean official said here Tuesday that there is "high possibility" of the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has conducted nuclear test after detecting artificial magnitude 5.1 quake, Yonhap reported. Full story

Japan to hold security meeting on DPRK's artificial quake

TOKYO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday that Japan will immediately convene a security meeting after an "artificial quake" was detected in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

MORE...\

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-02/12/c_132165682.htm

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. The South Koreans are on hair trigger alert.

Oy...emergency security council meeting, guess who is the President this Month? S. Korea.

[davidpdx]

34. Not true

South Korea has increased their alert level, but they are not on the highest alert. They will wait for final confirmation. At this point it has not been confirmed, just been labeled "highly likely". Unless something else happens, the UN Security Council will be the next step. Even then China is going to probably water down whatever is put forward.

Basis: I have lived in South Korea for 9 years and been through three nuclear tests and several missile launches.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. They have gone from DefCon 3 to DefCon 2.

DefCon 1 is wartime.

Here, they are using the same system.


Defense condition Exercise term Description Readiness Color
DEFCON 1 COCKED PISTOL[3] Nuclear war is imminent Maximum readiness White
DEFCON 2 FAST PACE[3] Next step to nuclear war Armed Forces ready to deploy and engage in less than 6 hours Red
DEFCON 3 ROUND HOUSE[3] Increase in force readiness above that required for normal readiness Air Force ready to mobilize in 15 minutes Yellow
DEFCON 4 DOUBLE TAKE[3] Increased intelligence watch and strengthened security measures Above normal readiness Green
DEFCON 5 FADE OUT[3] Lowest state of readiness Normal readiness Blue

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEFCON

[davidpdx]

38. That is pretty standard

Trust me when I say the western media makes more of it then it really is. People aren't hiding under desks. I'm 26 miles from the border of North Korea and there is no huge worry.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Did I say that? No

Just said they gone from DefCon 3 to two, which is the highest level of alert before actual war.

Enjoy the show.

[davidpdx]

45. By the way this happened in 2009 as well

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/world/asia/29korea.html?ref=world&_r=0

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. And...

:scratches hair:

[davidpdx]

49. I didn't know you had any hair on that head of yours

But my point is they raised it from 3 to 2 then as well.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Again, and...

It s still hair trigger alert...one step before actual, like for real, war.

So the US went to DefCon 2 in 1973 and 911



The problem when you enter DefCon 2 is the stand down, saving face in this case.

So again, and.

The fact that it has become a new normal is what is striking.

As I said, enjoy the show.

[davidpdx]

53. I know you aren't going to want to hear this

But the war actually never ended between North and South Korea. LOL

Yeah I know I'm getting irritating.

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Yup, again and.

DefCon two is one stage before actual end of the armistice... And.

Unlike most people in this country, it might come as a shock, I know there s a state of war.

[davidpdx]

36. Both of these are Chinese sources

I honestly wouldn't trust anything they publish.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. How about Reuters, ap, CNN and BBC?

Oh and forgot...Yonhap?

[davidpdx]

40. Those are better

Yonhap is the official South Korean news agency and the the Chosunilbo is a pretty widely read paper here.

english.chosun.com

[littlemissmartypants]

28. LMSP kicking...

:large

https://twitter.com/W7VOA

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Thanks.

Technology is amazing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Interesting tidbit via AP.

Kim Min-seok, a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman, told reporters that North Korea informed China and the United States of its plans to conduct a nuclear test. It was not clear when Pyongyang told Beijing and Washington.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_NKOREA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-02-11-23-51-16

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. No WH statement yet

9:08 PMSteve Herman @W7VOA
My colleague @DanWHouse reports nothing from White House yet on probable #DPRK #nuclear test but a statement could come in some hours.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Hey, Secretary of State Kerry...here...catch...hot potato

9:08 PMYonhap News Agency @YonhapNews
(NK N-test) S. Korean FM telephones Kerry about N. Korea's apparent nuke test http://bit.ly/VRkHKl


I know of one person right now that is going phew, no longer mine.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. More on Emergency Council meeting.

Via Reuters live blog

UN Security Council to meet Tuesday on N.Korea nuclear test

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on North Korea's apparent nuclear test at 9:00 a.m. EST (1400 GMT) on Tuesday, council diplomats said.

Diplomats had said previously that the United States, South Korea and European members would want the Security Council to adopt a resolution that would impose new sanctions on Pyongyang in the event of a third nuclear test in defiance of earlier council resolutions.

Getting approval on a council resolution, however, could take weeks.

(Reporting By Louis Charbonneau; editing by Christopher Wilson)
by anthony.derosa 9:25 PM

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. Via Yonhap

9:34 PMYonhap News Agency @YonhapNews
(NK N-test) N. Korea is believed to have detonated "destructive" nuclear bomb: defense ministry http://bit.ly/Z6R129
ReplyRetweetFavorite

(Twitter link will have to do)

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. Silly me, I ad not realized the transition has not happened

Interesting twist...timing makes more sense.

9:48 PMYonhap News Agency @YonhapNews
(URGENT) President-elect Park Geun-hye strongly condemns N.K. nuclear test http://bit.ly/Z6SdT7


9:47 PMYonhap News Agency @YonhapNews
(URGENT) President Lee to meet President-elect Park to discuss N.K. nuclear test at 3pm http://bit.ly/Z6S9Ti

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Per Reuters live blog, NK confirms the test

N.Korea confirms "successful" nuclear test - KCNA

SEOUL, Feb 12 (Reuters) - North Korea confirmed on Tuesday it has successfully conducted a third nuclear test, saying it used a miniaturized device that had a greater explosive force than previous tests, the North's KCNA official news agency said.

"It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," KCNA said.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Miyoung Kim)
by anthony.derosa 10:07 PM

10:06 PMSteve Herman @W7VOA