Japan warns North Korea on nuclear test
Dated 25/8/2006
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Japan said on Friday that a nuclear test by North Korea would pose a grave threat to the whole of Asia Pacific, amid reports Tokyo is said to be boosting surveillance of the communist nation after seeing vehicles entering a suspected test site.
The comments by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe came after Kyodo News agency reported that the vehicles were seen in recent days at what is thought to be a nuclear testing site in northeastern North Korea.
Abe did not confirm the report, saying he could not comment on what Japan knows because of intelligence reasons, but he urged Pyongyang to return to the stalled six-nation talks on its nuclear disarmament.
"If North Korea does carry out its nuclear experience, it will pose a grave threat to the peace and security of Japan, Northeast Asia, and the international community," Abe said. "It will be absolutely unacceptable."
"North Korea's nuclear problem should be resolved peacefully through the six party talks," he added.
Kyodo, in the Thursday report, quoted an unidentified government official as saying it was unclear whether any nuclear tests by the North were imminent, but that Japan was closely monitoring the situation.
Japan's Foreign Ministry said that Tokyo had boosted surveillance of the area, but defense officials also refused to confirm the Kyodo report.
American media reported last week that U.S. officials were monitoring potentially suspicious activity at a suspected underground nuclear site.
On Thursday, South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator Chun Yung-woo warned that time was running out for countries seeking to persuade the North to disarm, but said chances of resuming international disarmament talks were slim.
Meanwhile, North Korea's army chief said Thursday his country will "do our utmost to bolster our self-defensive war deterrent, unhindered by anything," and criticized Washington for what he called a "dastardly and malicious hostile policy" toward the North.
The North regularly uses the term "war deterrent" to refer to its nuclear weapons program.
North Korea has claimed it has nuclear weapons, but hasn't performed any known test to confirm it. Many experts believe the North has enough radioactive material to build at least a half a dozen nuclear weapons.
