beijingwalker
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S Korea fears nuclear test by N Korea
Seoul, Dec 14, 2012,
Seoul, Dec 14, 2012,
North Korea will likely conduct a third nuclear test following its successful launch of a long-range rocket in the face of global condemnation, a top South Korean official said on Friday.
A nuclear test is highly probable, and judging from analysis of intelligence, significant preparations have been made, Unification Minister Yu Woo-Ik told a parliamentary committee, without elaborating.
North Korea has a track record of conducting nuclear tests following missile launches whose aim was to develop a delivery system for nuclear warheads, Yu said. The Norths previous nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 were both carried out within months of long-range rocket launches. Pyongyang insists Wednesdays launch was a purely scientific mission aimed at placing a polar-orbiting earth observation satellite in space, but most of the world saw it as a disguised ballistic missile test.
The UN Security Council has condemned the latest launch and warned of possible measures over what the US called a highly provocative act. Another nuclear test would prompt a much stronger reaction, including from China which is the Norths only major ally and main economic benefactor.