North Korea's Nuclear Weapon Test (Update #2)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in an undated photo released this week. The country's defiance over its nuclear programme has outraged the international community. Photo from The Daily Mail

North Korean Nuclear Test Catches U.S. by Surprise -- FOX News

One senior intelligence official says that even after the demonstration at the Punggye nuclear test site, the only evidence of activity that analysts could see in aerial imagery was a "couple of spoil sites," or large holes.

North Korea's decision to detonate a nuclear device underground Monday caught the United States by surprise, officials said.

"They didn't give us any warning whatsoever," one senior U.S. intelligence official who works on North Korean issues told FOX News.

Another official told Reuters that North Korea gave less than an hour's notice to the United States that it would carry out the test.

The official said the communist country made "no demands," and passed on the message that it would carry out the test through diplomats at the United Nations in New York City.

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Previous Post: North Korea Conducts Underground Nuclear Test. Also Test Fires Three Missiles

North Korea carried out the nuclear test at a site six miles underground and 40 miles north-west of Kimchaek in the north-east of the country. Photo from The Daily Mail.

More News On North Korea's Nuclear Test

N.Korea explodes 'Hiroshima' bomb - 20 times more powerful than its last nuke -- The Daily Mail
North Korea tests nuclear weapon 'as powerful as Hiroshima bomb' -- The Guardian
UN Security Council condemns NKorea nuke test -- Yahoo News/AP
EU, US: NKorean nuke test violates UN sanctions -- Yahoo News/AP
Was North Korea's test really a surprise? -- Foreign Policy Blog
North Korea’s Possibly Itty-Bitty Nuke (Updated) -- The Danger Room
North Korea source warns of new nuclear blasts -- Reuters
Japan eyes decisive action after N.Korea nuke test -- Reuters
Japan to request UNSC emergency meeting on nuke test -- M&C
Urgent talks after N Korean test -- BBC
Obama: N. Korea 'recklessly challenging' the world -- Yahoo News/AP
Kim shows up Obama's soft approach -- The Australian
With second test, North Korea asserts nuclear-power ambitions -- Christian Science Monitor
North Korean Nuke Test: What Good Is Diplomacy? -- Time Magazine
Timing of Test Hints at Succession Issues -- New York Times analysis
What John Bolton knew -- Power Line
North Korea’s Design Choices -- Arms Control Wonk
North Korea Gets It Right -- Armchair Generalist