2009 North Korean nuclear test

The 2009 North Korean nuclear test was the underground detonation of a nuclear device conducted on Monday, 25 May 2009 by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This was its second nuclear test, the first test having taken place in October 2006. Following the nuclear test, Pyongyang also conducted several missile tests. A scientific paper later estimated the yield as 2.35 kilotons.

2009 North Korean nuclear test
Graphic from the United States Geological Survey showing the location of seismic activity at the time of the test
Information
CountryNorth Korea
Test site41.306°N 129.029°E / 41.306; 129.029, Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, Kilju County.
Period09:54:43, 25 May 2009 (2009-05-25T09:54:43) KST
Number of tests1
Test typeUnderground
Device typeFission
Max. yield
  • 2.4 kilotons of TNT (10 TJ)(Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission)
  • 2.35 kilotons of TNT (9.8 TJ)(Estimation from Chinese academics)
  • 5.1–8.9 kilotons of TNT (21–37 TJ)(Estimations from University of Science and Technology of China)
  • 5.4 kilotons of TNT (23 TJ)(Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources estimates in Jan 2016), which was revised from earlier estimates at 13 kilotons of TNT (54 TJ) in 2013
  • 10–20 kilotons of TNT (42–84 TJ) (Russian estimates)
  • 1–20 kilotons of TNT (4.2–83.7 TJ) (South Korea Defense Minister estimates)
  • 3–8 kilotons of TNT (13–33 TJ) (Analyst Martin Kalinowski at the University of Hamburg)
  • 2–6 kilotons of TNT (8.4–25.1 TJ), but likely less than 4 kilotons of TNT (17 TJ) (Hans M. Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists)
Test chronology
2km
1.2miles
South
West
East
North portal
6
5
4
3
2
1
Location of North Korea's nuclear tests
1: 2006; 2: 2009; 3: 2013; 4: 2016-01; 5: 2016-09; 6: 2017;
V
North Korea and weapons
of mass destruction
Events
See also

The test was nearly universally condemned by the international community. Following the test, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1874 condemning the test and tightening sanctions on the country.

It was widely believed that the test was conducted as a result of the succession crisis in the country. After Kim Jong-Il suffered a stroke in the summer of 2008, arrangements were made for his third son, Kim Jong-un, to take power upon his death. It is believed the North Koreans conducted the nuclear test to show that, even in a time of possible weakness, it did not intend to give up its nuclear weapons program.

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