United States President George Bush warned on Friday that a North Korean nuclear test would be a threat and urged the international community to work toward ensuring Pyongyang cannot jeopardise stability.
The US news network ABC, citing a senior State Department official, reported late on Thursday that US intelligence agencies suspect North Korea is planning an underground detonation of a nuclear device.
”If North Korea were to conduct a test, it’s just a constant reminder for people in the neighbourhood, in particular, that North Korea poses a threat,” Bush told reporters at the Camp David presidential retreat outside Washington.
”We expect our friends and those sitting around the table with us to act in such a manner as to help rid the world of the threat,” Bush added.
Bush was referring to the other four countries involved in six-nation talks with North Korea aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear activities. The six-nation negotiations, which have been stalled for nearly a year, comprise China, Japan, Russia, the US and the two Koreas.
Bush refused to discuss details of the ABC report or intelligence related to North Korea.
ABC reported a military official as saying there was new evidence North Korea could be preparing for a nuclear test at the north-eastern underground facility of P’unggye-yok. That evidence included ”suspicious vehicle movement” and the unloading of large reels of cable.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s foreign ministry said an inquiry will be made into the ABC report but found the news item ”unconvincing”. Last year, satellite images showed suspicious activities at presumed test sites in North Korea. No tests were conducted.
North Korea announced last year that it had at least one nuclear bomb. In July, North Korea test-fired seven missiles, including a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, into the East Sea between South Korea and Japan, sparking international outrage. — Sapa-dpa