U.S. suspects North Korea may try second test
Source: Reuters
(Updates with comments from defense officials, Rumsfeld) By Kristin Roberts WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - North Korea has moved equipment and structures into place that may indicate Pyongyang plans a second nuclear test, U.S. defense officials said on Tuesday. "This activity could represent prep for a second test, but it doesn't necessarily mean definitively that it is," one U.S. defense intelligence official said. Officials at both the White House and Pentagon, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not discuss intelligence findings. But some said they have seen "general" activity near the site of North Korea's first test. They played down speculation that such activity was under way at a second possible testing location and stressed that the movement of people and equipment being witnessed was not a sure sign Pyongyang would test again. "They may have had the same activity six months ago but it wouldn't have raised any red flags at the time," one official said. "But now it is." The U.S. director of national intelligence said on Monday the U.S. government had determined that the underground blast last week in North Korea was a nuclear test. That test prompted global condemnation and United Nations sanctions. The New York Times said on Tuesday the explosion was powered not by by uranium, but rather by plutonium harvested from North Korea's small, mothballed nuclear reactor. The newspaper report, which quoted unnamed administration and intelligence officials, suggested fears that North Korea had developed a uranium program based on equipment and know-how from Pakistan were unfounded. Nuclear experts told the Times that the use of plutonium was important because it indicated North Korea probably had only one nuclear program mature enough to produce weapons. The White House said it would not be surprised if North Korea attempted a second test. "The first test, while nuclear, did have a low yield and perhaps it would not be unreasonable to expect that the North Koreans would like to try to do something again," said White House spokesman Tony Snow. Snow said it would be reasonable to expect a second detonation aimed at testing the will of the United Nations, U.N. Security Council and the nations engaged in long-stalled talks with North Korea -- the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he had seen speculation that North Korea was preparing for a second nuclear test, but would not comment on any specific intelligence about Pyongyang's intentions.
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