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Image of DPRK 's nuclear test base
released in January. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
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WASHINGTON,
Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Radioactivity has been detected from a nuclear test by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said a U.S. government official on
Friday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said a preliminary U.S. intelligence analysis has shown radioactivity in air
samples collected near a suspected nuclear test site of the DPRK.
But the Bush government has not made a definitive
conclusion about the nature of the blast which DPRK defined as its first nuclear
test, he said.
Earlier Friday, the U.S. government said that it
still does not have a definite answer on whether the DPRK conducted a nuclear
test. Enditem
DPRK test seen as only partial blast:
report
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Four days after the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) claimed it had set off its first
nuclear bomb, U.S. intelligence agencies think the blast detected by seismic
sensors was a plutonium-fueled device that did not fully explode, the Washington
Times said in a report on Friday.
"The working assumption is that what happened, more
likely than not, was an attempted nuclear test that fell far short of being
successful," one U.S. official familiar with the latest intelligence assessment
told the U.S. daily.
There is still no confirmation that the DPRK
succeeded in creating a nuclear explosion, and so far no radioactive particles
that would confirm a successful nuclear test have been detected, the report
said.
U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday that the
United States was still working to confirm the claimed nuclear test by the DPRK.
White House spokesman Tony Snow has admitted that it
takes time to know whether the DPRK actually tested a nuclear bomb and the
United States might never get a conclusive answer.
The DPRK claimed Sunday night that it had
successfully set off its first nuclear test. However, U.S. intelligence
officials have voiced doubt over the claimed nuclear test as the seismic
readings were shy of a typical nuclear detonation. Enditem
Related:
U.S. introduces resolution on DPRK's
nuclear test
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United States on
Thursday introduced a new draft resolution mandating sanctions against the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its nuclear test.
Bush warns DPRK over nuclear
test
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W.
Bush said on Wednesday that the United States "reserves all options" to defend
U.S. interests and allies in the region," although he said the United States is
still committed to diplomacy and has no intention of attacking the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Bush holds press conference, warns
DPRK over nuclear test
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W.
Bush, at a press conference held in the Rose Garden Wednesday, warned the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its claimed nuclear test while
reaffirming his commitment to diplomacy.
U.S. says can't confirm 2nd nuclear
test by DPRK
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on
Tuesday that it can't confirm a report by Japanese national broadcaster NHK that
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has conducted a second nuclear
test.
