254:
66:
168:
25:
801:
test or demonstration. Recent intelligence reported that North Korea might have been planning its first nuclear bomb test, and the significant date lends credence to this hypothesis. However, it would be unusual for North Korea to then deny it, and international officials have stated that it does not
721:
that it had turned plutonium from 8,000 spent fuel rods into nuclear weapons as a deterrent against the US nuclear threat. Six-nation talks on the nuclear issue, which were due to resume, were instead suspended. As of this date, analysts believed North Korea had ruled out further talks until after
843:
North Korea's claim to possess nuclear weapons on 10 February 2005 gives the nuclear testing or accident hypotheses some credibility. However, no neighboring nations have claimed any detection of radioactive isotopes which would be characteristic of either. North Korea claimed to have tested its
623:
visited what was purported to be the site on 16 September 2004, and reported having seen a hydroelectric project under construction. However, South Korea said the diplomats had not been in the correct location and were about 100 km (62 mi) from the suspected explosion site.
552:
similarly said that it did not appear to be nuclear. It would be some days before the effects of a nuclear explosion would be unequivocally visible to apolitical authorities. It would not be possible to hide the nuclear nature of such an explosion for long, as the
636:
claimed that there was no explosion at all at the purported site, saying the supposed mushroom cloud was a natural cloud formation (mushroom clouds form from many types of large explosions, not only nuclear detonations). On the same day, the
530:. However, North Korean news is usually a method employed by governing figures to make the ruling party's decisions more favourable to the people (national and internationally); therefore, unfavourable stories are commonly not broadcast. The
733:
and issued several threats of war on South Korea. As of April 2018, North Korea along with South Korea have announced their intentions to completely denuclearize the Korean peninsular and finally declare peace between the two Koreas.
1310:
498:, was taken as significant because North Korea has a history of making grand military gestures on significant dates. However, the original reports have been contradicted by later reports denying that there was any explosion.
451:. The nature and cause of the suspected explosion is the subject of speculation. No neighboring nations have claimed any detection of radioactive isotopes characteristic of a nuclear explosion.
1125:
495:
1290:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1399:
1318:
480:
372:
1032:
1295:
1241:
1148:
1118:
849:
377:
313:
1173:
1418:
1394:
1134:
861:
243:
1472:
1001:
1231:
306:
1269:
921:
723:
471:, a mountainous region, about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level. The explosion was about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the border with
338:
802:
appear to have been a nuclear explosion. (Later updates in intelligence suggested that the test planning may have not been what it appeared to be.)
1462:
1111:
1088:
761:
444:
1264:
937:
692:
333:
83:
38:
867:
662:
253:
1467:
1193:
971:
730:
418:
271:
1363:
526:
had been observed. In addition, suspicion was raised by the fact that there was no mention of the explosion on internal North Korean
1098:
229:
211:
149:
52:
1183:
362:
178:
130:
1158:
791:
become increasingly unstable as they deteriorate. The United States dropped 635,000 tons of bombs in Korea between 1950 and 1953.
542:
490:
activity had been detected early on 9 September 2004, and this was correlated with a "strangely shaped cloud", suspected to be a
357:
102:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
718:
301:
296:
291:
286:
897:
695:. On 14 September 2004, a British envoy said that North Korea was still committed to the talks, but on 27 September 2004, the
1274:
1259:
1254:
1249:
1206:
1201:
845:
343:
328:
323:
318:
281:
276:
87:
109:
1178:
1457:
1404:
1300:
1153:
382:
638:
742:
There has been a great deal of speculation on the nature of the incident. Hypotheses can be divided on several axes.
193:
116:
1024:
696:
189:
76:
98:
44:
993:
568:
North Korea initially denied that the explosion was nuclear. When prompted for an explanation, North Korea's
367:
699:, North Korea's state news agency, reported that resumption of the talks was out of the question until the
411:
1093:
918:
641:
reported that the only seismic activity in
Ryanggang province in the period in question was at 23:24
642:
1083:
714:
633:
827:
809:
776:
769:
750:
531:
468:
464:
123:
691:. North Korea was insisting on a delay before a fourth round of talks, citing recently revealed
826:
Accidental. North Korea's failing economy has made its industry accident-prone, as seen in the
1103:
404:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1163:
963:
833:
765:
706:
Since the initial days, there has been essentially no follow-up reporting in
Western media.
569:
1089:
Digital
Chosunilbo: Signs Indicate No Explosion Occurred in N. Korea's Kim Hyong-jik County
1168:
997:
925:
872:
668:
560:
created by a nuclear explosion would be detectable to outside observers around the world.
794:
North Korea's official explanation of controlled demolition for a hydroelectric project.
494:. Together these would indicate a large explosion. The date, 9 September 2004, the 56th
798:
608:
589:
538:
523:
491:
1451:
1077:
819:
Finally, another way to divide up explosion hypotheses is by how intentional it was:
700:
672:
585:
650:
573:
545:
875:
805:
A nuclear accident. Likewise, it has been denied that the explosion was nuclear.
757:
710:
676:
596:
554:
549:
507:
506:
The incident was not reported internationally until 12 September 2004, when the
440:
65:
788:
592:
577:
527:
1433:
1420:
448:
436:
599:, would be permitted to visit the site. Diplomats from the United Kingdom,
938:"'New era of peace': North and South Korea vow 'no more war' on peninsula"
667:
At the time of the blast, North Korea was under pressure to again resume
620:
581:
557:
476:
1028:
839:
Military or terrorist action connected with an internal power struggle.
815:
Explosion of a munitions dump, or of explosives in a munitions factory.
604:
515:
487:
684:
616:
612:
600:
511:
392:
196:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
576:, officially stated that the explosion "was in fact the deliberate
688:
680:
519:
472:
964:"Carpet-Bombing Falsehoods About a War That's Little Understood"
632:
On 17 September 2004, South Korean Vice
Minister of Unification
534:
earlier in 2004 was reported only several days after the event.
459:
The suspected explosion occurred near WĹŹltan
Workers' District (
1107:
537:
There was immediate popular speculation that the explosion was
1099:
KCNA Blasts U.S. for
Overturning Groundwork of Six-party Talks
994:"Satellite Photos Should Reveal Causes of Ryanggang Explosion"
646:
588:
project". North Korea announced on 13 September 2004 that the
161:
59:
18:
252:
1080:(commentary suggesting that the blast was in fact nuclear)
745:
Things that could cause the physical phenomena observed:
1084:
HoustonChronicle.com: North Korea: Talks depend on South
787:
Explosive remnants of war. Unexploded ordnance from the
768:, said "maybe it was ... some kind of forest fire". The
548:
said there was "no indication" that it was nuclear, and
185:
783:
If there was an explosion, the main possible causes:
1025:"The odd tale of a lone Israeli spy and North Korea"
1387:
1309:
1283:
1240:
1192:
1141:
878:
based on the enemy action theory of the explosion.)
653:, about 100 km from the suspected blast site.
90:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1291:Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization
1400:South Korea Ballistic Missile Range Guidelines
772:also quoted a source suggesting a forest fire.
1119:
812:blast, to calibrate for a later nuclear test.
412:
8:
1296:Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center
1149:Timeline of the North Korean nuclear program
1073:BBC News: N. Korea 'will talk' says UK envoy
898:"NORTH KOREAN MISSILE BASE AT YEONGJEO-DONG"
463:) (41°19'47"N 127°05'02"E) in the county of
378:Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center
242:
1395:South Korea and weapons of mass destruction
1135:North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
1063:BBC News: UK demands N. Korea explain blast
862:North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
496:anniversary of the formation of North Korea
373:Korean People's Army Strategic Rocket Force
257:North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
1126:
1112:
1104:
1068:BBC News: N. Korea allows blast site visit
1058:BBC News: N. Korea blast 'was not nuclear'
419:
405:
241:
230:Learn how and when to remove this message
212:Learn how and when to remove this message
150:Learn how and when to remove this message
919:South Korea: No big blast in North Korea
671:concerning its nuclear program with the
1174:Japan–North Korea Pyongyang Declaration
888:
762:United States National Security Advisor
729:Since then, North Korea has conducted
693:South Korean nuclear research programs
974:from the original on October 30, 2015
850:multiple nuclear tests by North Korea
7:
481:Yeongjeo-dong ballistic missile base
443:on 9 September 2004 in the northern
88:adding citations to reliable sources
868:Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil
724:United States presidential election
663:North Korea nuclear weapons program
1035:from the original on June 27, 2013
1004:from the original on March 5, 2015
896:Dave Schmerler (6 December 2018).
14:
1473:Suspected nuclear weapons testing
34:This article has multiple issues.
1159:1994 North Korean nuclear crisis
1094:China Daily: No explosion at all
846:nuclear weapon on 9 October 2006
639:Korea Earthquake Research Center
543:United States Secretary of State
358:1994 North Korean nuclear crisis
166:
64:
23:
962:Dwight Garner (July 21, 2010).
719:United Nations General Assembly
75:needs additional citations for
42:or discuss these issues on the
1463:Nuclear program of North Korea
731:multiple nuclear weapons tests
657:North Korean disarmament talks
1:
1179:Sanctions against North Korea
1023:Nate Thayer (June 20, 2013).
479:installations, including the
16:2004 explosion in North Korea
1405:Nuclear power in South Korea
1301:Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site
1184:2017–2018 North Korea crisis
1154:Nuclear power in North Korea
1078:Nuclear Test in North Korea?
475:. The area contains several
383:Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site
363:2017–2018 North Korea crisis
649:+9) on 8 September 2004 at
192:the claims made and adding
1489:
703:made certain concessions.
660:
486:Early reports stated that
1468:Explosions in North Korea
848:. There have since been
823:Intended by North Korea.
669:six-way diplomatic talks
455:The suspected explosion
244:North Korea and weapons
1434:41.32972°N 127.08389°E
713:Vice Foreign Minister
258:
256:
99:"Ryanggang explosion"
368:Korean People's Army
84:improve this article
1458:2004 in North Korea
1439:41.32972; 127.08389
1430: /
900:. Arms Control Wonk
836:by a foreign state.
643:Korea Standard Time
439:that took place in
433:Ryanggang explosion
388:Ryanggang explosion
248:
246:of mass destruction
924:2004-09-22 at the
828:Ryongchon disaster
810:chemical explosive
777:cumulonimbus cloud
770:Yonhap News Agency
751:chemical explosive
726:in November 2008.
584:as part of a huge
532:Ryongchon disaster
514:cited a source in
469:Ryanggang Province
259:
177:possibly contains
1413:
1412:
717:announced at the
709:On 28 September,
461:WĹŹltal-lodongjagu
429:
428:
240:
239:
232:
222:
221:
214:
179:original research
160:
159:
152:
134:
57:
1480:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1441:
1440:
1435:
1431:
1428:
1427:
1426:
1423:
1164:Agreed Framework
1128:
1121:
1114:
1105:
1045:
1044:
1042:
1040:
1020:
1014:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1000:. Oct 14, 2004.
990:
984:
983:
981:
979:
959:
953:
952:
950:
949:
934:
928:
916:
910:
909:
907:
905:
893:
834:Covert operation
830:earlier in 2004.
766:Condoleezza Rice
628:From South Korea
570:foreign minister
564:From North Korea
421:
414:
407:
339:2016 (September)
249:
235:
228:
217:
210:
206:
203:
197:
194:inline citations
170:
169:
162:
155:
148:
144:
141:
135:
133:
92:
68:
60:
49:
27:
26:
19:
1488:
1487:
1483:
1482:
1481:
1479:
1478:
1477:
1448:
1447:
1438:
1436:
1432:
1429:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1417:
1416:
1414:
1409:
1383:
1305:
1279:
1236:
1188:
1169:Six-party talks
1137:
1132:
1054:
1049:
1048:
1038:
1036:
1022:
1021:
1017:
1007:
1005:
998:The Chosun Ilbo
992:
991:
987:
977:
975:
961:
960:
956:
947:
945:
936:
935:
931:
926:Wayback Machine
917:
913:
903:
901:
895:
894:
890:
885:
873:direct-to-video
858:
740:
665:
659:
630:
566:
522:, which said a
504:
457:
425:
245:
236:
225:
224:
223:
218:
207:
201:
198:
183:
171:
167:
156:
145:
139:
136:
93:
91:
81:
69:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1486:
1484:
1476:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1450:
1449:
1411:
1410:
1408:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1391:
1389:
1385:
1384:
1382:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1315:
1313:
1311:UN resolutions
1307:
1306:
1304:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1287:
1285:
1281:
1280:
1278:
1277:
1272:
1270:September 2016
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1246:
1244:
1238:
1237:
1235:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1198:
1196:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1145:
1143:
1139:
1138:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1123:
1116:
1108:
1102:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1053:
1052:External links
1050:
1047:
1046:
1015:
985:
968:New York Times
954:
929:
911:
887:
886:
884:
881:
880:
879:
864:
857:
854:
841:
840:
837:
831:
824:
817:
816:
813:
806:
803:
799:nuclear weapon
795:
792:
781:
780:
773:
754:
739:
736:
658:
655:
629:
626:
609:Czech Republic
565:
562:
524:mushroom cloud
503:
500:
492:mushroom cloud
456:
453:
427:
426:
424:
423:
416:
409:
401:
398:
397:
396:
395:
390:
385:
380:
375:
370:
365:
360:
354:
353:
349:
348:
347:
346:
341:
336:
334:2016 (January)
331:
326:
321:
311:
310:
309:
304:
299:
294:
289:
284:
279:
268:
267:
261:
260:
238:
237:
220:
219:
174:
172:
165:
158:
157:
72:
70:
63:
58:
32:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1485:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1455:
1453:
1446:
1443:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1386:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1312:
1308:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1288:
1286:
1282:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1247:
1245:
1243:
1242:Nuclear tests
1239:
1233:
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1195:
1194:Missile tests
1191:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1140:
1136:
1129:
1124:
1122:
1117:
1115:
1110:
1109:
1106:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1034:
1030:
1026:
1019:
1016:
1003:
999:
995:
989:
986:
973:
969:
965:
958:
955:
943:
939:
933:
930:
927:
923:
920:
915:
912:
899:
892:
889:
882:
877:
874:
870:
869:
865:
863:
860:
859:
855:
853:
851:
847:
838:
835:
832:
829:
825:
822:
821:
820:
814:
811:
807:
804:
800:
796:
793:
790:
786:
785:
784:
778:
774:
771:
767:
763:
759:
755:
752:
748:
747:
746:
743:
737:
735:
732:
727:
725:
720:
716:
712:
707:
704:
702:
701:United States
698:
694:
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
673:United States
670:
664:
656:
654:
652:
648:
644:
640:
635:
627:
625:
622:
618:
614:
610:
606:
602:
598:
594:
591:
587:
586:hydroelectric
583:
579:
575:
571:
563:
561:
559:
556:
551:
547:
544:
540:
535:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
509:
501:
499:
497:
493:
489:
484:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
454:
452:
450:
446:
442:
438:
434:
422:
417:
415:
410:
408:
403:
402:
400:
399:
394:
391:
389:
386:
384:
381:
379:
376:
374:
371:
369:
366:
364:
361:
359:
356:
355:
351:
350:
345:
342:
340:
337:
335:
332:
330:
327:
325:
322:
320:
317:
316:
315:
314:Nuclear tests
312:
308:
305:
303:
300:
298:
295:
293:
290:
288:
285:
283:
280:
278:
275:
274:
273:
272:Missile tests
270:
269:
265:
264:
263:
262:
255:
251:
250:
247:
234:
231:
216:
213:
205:
195:
191:
187:
181:
180:
175:This article
173:
164:
163:
154:
151:
143:
132:
129:
125:
122:
118:
115:
111:
108:
104:
101: –
100:
96:
95:Find sources:
89:
85:
79:
78:
73:This article
71:
67:
62:
61:
56:
54:
47:
46:
41:
40:
35:
30:
21:
20:
1415:
1265:January 2016
1037:. Retrieved
1018:
1006:. Retrieved
988:
976:. Retrieved
967:
957:
946:. Retrieved
944:. 2018-04-27
941:
932:
914:
902:. Retrieved
891:
866:
842:
818:
782:
744:
741:
728:
715:Choi Su-heon
711:North Korean
708:
705:
666:
651:Mount Baekdu
634:Rhee Bong-jo
631:
574:Paek Nam-sun
567:
546:Colin Powell
541:in origin.
536:
510:news agency
508:South Korean
505:
485:
460:
458:
435:was a large
432:
430:
387:
226:
208:
202:January 2008
199:
176:
146:
137:
127:
120:
113:
106:
94:
82:Please help
77:verification
74:
50:
43:
37:
36:Please help
33:
1437: /
1425:127°05′02″E
1142:Main topics
876:action film
758:forest fire
677:South Korea
597:David Slinn
555:radioactive
550:South Korea
465:KimhyĹŹngjik
441:North Korea
1452:Categories
1422:41°19′47″N
1284:Facilities
948:2018-04-28
883:References
789:Korean War
779:formation.
775:A natural
661:See also:
593:ambassador
578:demolition
186:improve it
110:newspapers
39:improve it
1232:2021–2023
449:Ryanggang
437:explosion
307:2021–2023
190:verifying
140:June 2013
45:talk page
1039:June 20,
1033:Archived
1008:June 20,
1002:Archived
978:June 20,
972:Archived
942:ABC News
922:Archived
856:See also
808:A large
749:A large
621:Mongolia
582:mountain
558:isotopes
502:Reaction
477:military
445:province
352:See also
1388:Related
1029:NK News
904:25 June
605:Germany
590:British
539:nuclear
516:Beijing
488:seismic
184:Please
124:scholar
844:first
760:. The
753:blast.
687:, and
685:Russia
617:Russia
613:Poland
607:, the
601:Sweden
512:Yonhap
393:Songun
266:Events
126:
119:
112:
105:
97:
738:Cause
689:Japan
681:China
580:of a
528:media
520:China
473:China
131:JSTOR
117:books
1379:2397
1374:2375
1369:2371
1364:2321
1359:2270
1354:2094
1349:2087
1344:1985
1339:1928
1334:1874
1329:1718
1324:1695
1275:2017
1260:2013
1255:2009
1250:2006
1227:2017
1222:2014
1217:2013
1212:2009
1207:2006
1202:1993
1041:2013
1010:2013
980:2013
906:2021
722:the
697:KCNA
619:and
431:The
344:2017
329:2013
324:2009
319:2006
302:2017
297:2014
292:2013
287:2009
282:2006
277:1993
103:news
1319:825
647:UTC
467:in
447:of
188:by
86:by
1454::
1031:.
1027:.
996:.
970:.
966:.
940:.
852:.
797:A
764:,
756:A
683:,
679:,
675:,
615:,
611:,
603:,
595:,
572:,
518:,
483:.
48:.
1127:e
1120:t
1113:v
1043:.
1012:.
982:.
951:.
908:.
871:(
645:(
420:e
413:t
406:v
233:)
227:(
215:)
209:(
204:)
200:(
182:.
153:)
147:(
142:)
138:(
128:·
121:·
114:·
107:·
80:.
55:)
51:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.