Press release - 9 October, 2006
Greenpeace has condemned the underground testing of a nuclear weapon by North Korea. South Korea’s intelligence agency detected a 3.58 magnitude seismic tremor confirming the nuclear test announced by North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA). By testing the weapon North Korea becomes the ninth country to have a nuclear arsenal.
"By going
nuclear, North Korea has highlighted the weakness of the
non-proliferation treaty. Pyongyang has underscored the dangerous
connection between nuclear research, nuclear power and nuclear
weapons," said Steve Shallhorn, Executive Director of Greenpeace
Australia Pacific.
Greenpeace has called for a restrained reaction from other
countries, such as South Korea, Japan and the United States; there
should also be a re-convening of the six-party talks.
"Nobody wants yet another country to have a nuclear arsenal, but
with over 5,000 nuclear weapons in the arsenal of the United States
of America, the relative balance of power has to be kept in mind"
said Mr Shallhorn. "It's bad enough that North Korea has tested a
nuclear weapon, but it will be worse if other countries don't talk
to them."
North Korea apparently does not have a reliable delivery system
for nuclear weapons. The most recent test (July 2006) of a
longer-range missile was a failure, with the missile breaking apart
early in its flight. During a previous test over the Pacific, the
missile also broke up in flight.
In contrast, the United States maintains nuclear missile
carrying submarines in the Pacific at all times, in addition to
maintaining nuclear-armed bombers at bases around the world
including the Pacific island of Guam, and intercontinental missiles
in silos in the United States. All are capable of reaching North
Korea.
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Other contacts: Steve Shallhorn, Greenpeace Australia Pacific +61 (0)400 514 727Mhairi Dunlop, Greenpeace International Communications, +44 (0)7801 212 960