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North Korea camouflages nuclear test site: Report - The Times of India
SEOUL: North Korea has covered the entrance to a
tunnel at its nuclear test site in an apparent effort
to avoid satellite monitoring ahead of a widely
expected detonation, a report said Friday.
The Punggye-ri site, which has three tunnel
entrances and multiple support buildings, has been closely monitored by US, South Korean and
Japanese intelligence since North Korea ramped
up its test threats just over a week ago.
"Analysis showed a camouflage net looking like a
roof was placed on the tunnel entrance," Yonhap
News Agency cited a senior South Korean government source as saying.
"The move seems to be aimed at keeping nuclear
test preparations -- now near their completion --
from being exposed outside," the source said.
North Korea has threatened to carry out its third
nuclear test in response to UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for a long-range rocket launch it
carried out in December.
The North said the launch was a scientific mission
aimed at placing a satellite in orbit, but most of
the world saw it as a disguised ballistic missile
test. Yonhap quoted an intelligence source as saying
the cover at the test site may be aimed at
confusing outside watchers.
"It seems like a disturbance tactic, similar to one
that was used when the North prepared the
rocket launch," the source said. The South's intelligence agencies had been
embarrassed by the timing of the December
launch, partly due to the North's use of
camouflage at the launch site.
At one point, diplomatic and military sources
suggested the launch was facing a lengthy delay, while some said the rocket had been completely
removed from the pad.
The rocket blasted off a day later.
SEOUL: North Korea has covered the entrance to a
tunnel at its nuclear test site in an apparent effort
to avoid satellite monitoring ahead of a widely
expected detonation, a report said Friday.
The Punggye-ri site, which has three tunnel
entrances and multiple support buildings, has been closely monitored by US, South Korean and
Japanese intelligence since North Korea ramped
up its test threats just over a week ago.
"Analysis showed a camouflage net looking like a
roof was placed on the tunnel entrance," Yonhap
News Agency cited a senior South Korean government source as saying.
"The move seems to be aimed at keeping nuclear
test preparations -- now near their completion --
from being exposed outside," the source said.
North Korea has threatened to carry out its third
nuclear test in response to UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for a long-range rocket launch it
carried out in December.
The North said the launch was a scientific mission
aimed at placing a satellite in orbit, but most of
the world saw it as a disguised ballistic missile
test. Yonhap quoted an intelligence source as saying
the cover at the test site may be aimed at
confusing outside watchers.
"It seems like a disturbance tactic, similar to one
that was used when the North prepared the
rocket launch," the source said. The South's intelligence agencies had been
embarrassed by the timing of the December
launch, partly due to the North's use of
camouflage at the launch site.
At one point, diplomatic and military sources
suggested the launch was facing a lengthy delay, while some said the rocket had been completely
removed from the pad.
The rocket blasted off a day later.
