Nuclear: about three months after announcement still no evidence on the nature of North Korean test

A highly specialized team from ENEA has been conducting radioactivity measures possibly linked to a nuclear explosion in the region. About three months following Pyongyang’s announcement there is still no evidence proving the nuclear nature of the event detected at that time by seismometers worldwide.

Over three months after the North Korea’s announcement of having successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, clear evidence proving the nuclear nature of the event, that is to say a radiation level consistent with a nuclear explosion, is still lacking.

Experts from the team of the National Data Center headquartered in Bologna in support to the National Authority for the CTBT

This according to monitoring activities conducted by ENEA, the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Sustainable Economic Development, through  analysis systems and prediction models of atmospheric circulation; the Agency has been monitoring the region since last January 6 to detect evidence to transmit to the National Authority in support to the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty) at the MAECI  (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation)(*), Directorate General for Political and Security Affairs.

What’s certain so far is that on January 6 a 4.82 magnitude seismic event with the characteristics of an explosion occurred at 2.30 (Italy time) in the same geographical location as earlier tests conducted by North Korea in 2006, 2009 and 2013; the event was detected by seismic stations worldwide and by the international monitoring network of the CTBT Treaty.

Map of monitoring stations of the IMS (International Monitoring System) of the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear Test–Ban-Treaty) www.ctbt.org

According to the ENEA experts, given the release mechanisms of an underground test, it’s impossible to make time predictions: in 2013 a Japanese CTBT monitoring station detected radioactive isotopes consistent with a possible release from the site, 50 days after the announcement of the test and the detection of an associated seismic signal. But even if radioactive isotopes were detected, it would be difficult to discern whether they came from a nuclear test, given the complex natural and anthropogenic environment of the region, with nuclear plants and radioisotopes production facilities for medical use.

ENEA has been carrying out CTBT verification activities since the mid 90’s and since 2009 a highly specialized

Homepage of the CTBTO – Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (www.ctbto.org)

ENEA team has been working in support of the MAECI as National Data Center for monitoring radioactivity in the atmosphere, in support of the implementation of the Treaty.

The team, headquartered in Bologna, can avail itself of the unique CTBT verification system: a network comprising 16 laboratories detecting radioactivity and 321 seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic monitoring stations detecting  radioactive debris. The stations are evenly distributed around the globe and can measure radioactive particulate and xenon.

CTBT is one of the major non-proliferation and weapons control agreements and after the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty is the cornerstone of the international nuclear weapons control regime.

For more information please contact:

Franca Padoani, Bologna Research Center franca.padoani@enea.it
Antonietta Rizzo, Bologna Research Center, antonietta.rizzo@enea.it

(*)The MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was appointed National Authority in charge of coordinating the implementation of the Treaty in Italy. The National Authority set up a National Data Center, NDC. The MAECI and ENEA have been collaborating on these themes through an ad-hoc Agreement since 2009.