Did you know that in North Korea, there is a place called the Bonggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, which is the main site for North Korea's nuclear tests and the core of North Korea's nuclear weapons program? Today, we're going to unveil this mysterious place and see how it became a symbol of North Korea's nuclear deterrent and what impact it has on the security and stability of North Korea and the world.
Bonggye-ri is located in Jiju-gun** in northeastern North Korea, about 80 kilometers from the Sino-North Korean border and about 300 kilometers from the capital Pyongyang. It is a mountainous area with complex terrain, inaccessibility and sparse population. It is said that it was once a coal mining area, but in the late 90s, after the closure of the coal mine, it was converted into a nuclear test site.
According to analysis by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and foreign intelligence agencies, the Phuonggyili nuclear test site has multiple tunnels and caves that can be used for underground nuclear testing. The benefits of underground nuclear testing are that they can reduce the leakage and detection of radioactive material, and it can also improve the safety and reliability of nuclear weapons.
North Korea conducted six nuclear tests in Pungye-ri, in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 (twice) and 2017. The increasing scale and power of these nuclear tests demonstrate the progress and development of North Korea's nuclear weapons technology.
On October 9, 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test, with an explosive yield of about 1,000 tons of TNT, equivalent to one-tenth of the atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. The test drew strong international condemnation and sanctions, but also marked North Korea's emergence as the eighth country to possess nuclear weapons.
On May 25, 2009, North Korea conducted its second nuclear test, with an explosive yield of about 2,000 to 6,000 tons of TNT, two to six times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. The test proved the repeatability and stability of North Korea's nuclear weapons, as well as North Korea's relentless attitude towards international pressure and sanctions.
On February 12, 2013, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test, with an explosive yield of about 6,000 to 7,000 tons of TNT, six to seven times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. The test, which came after North Korea announced a successful satellite launch, triggered strong reactions and vigilance from the United States, South Korea, Japan and other countries.
On January 6, 2016, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test, with an explosive yield of about 7.4 thousand tons to 16 thousand tons of TNT, equivalent to seven to sixteen times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. North Korea claimed that the test was a hydrogen bomb test, that is, a thermonuclear weapon more powerful than an atomic bomb. However, the international community is skeptical, arguing that North Korea may have simply conducted an enhanced atomic bomb test.
On September 9, 2016, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, with an explosive yield of about 10 kilotons to 30 kilotons of TNT, equivalent to ten to thirty times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. The test followed several missile tests by North Korea, demonstrating the coordinated development and upgrading of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile technology.
On September 3, 2017, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test, with an explosive yield of about 100 kilotons of TNT, a hundred times the size of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. The test was North Korea's largest nuclear test to date, and another test in which North Korea claimed to have successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb. This test caused the detection of earthquakes and man-made seismic waves, and also caused great shock and concern in the international community.
These nuclear tests conducted by North Korea at Ponggye-ri are aimed at achieving its nuclearization and intercontinental strike capability. North Korea believes that only by possessing nuclear weapons and missiles can it protect its security and sovereignty against threats and interference by the United States and other countries.
But North Korea's nuclear test also poses enormous risks and costs for itself and its neighbors. First, North Korea's nuclear test violated the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and multiple UN Security Council resolutions, led to strong international condemnation and sanctions, and affected North Korea's economy and diplomacy. Second, North Korea's nuclear test has also caused serious harm to the environment and people's health, which may lead to nuclear leakage, earthquakes, radioactive contamination and other consequences. Finally, the DPRK's nuclear test has also exacerbated tension and instability on the Korean peninsula and in North-East Asia, increased the possibility of nuclear war and threatened world peace and security.
The Bunggye-ri nuclear test site is one such awe-inspiring and frightening place, a testament to the history and current state of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, and a reflection of the complexity and intractability of the North Korean nuclear issue. Will there be further nuclear tests in Fengxi-ri in the future? Will North Korea abandon or limit its nuclear weapons program? Can the international community resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue or pressure? These are all issues that we need to pay attention to and think about. Thank you for watching, and we'll see you in the next issue!