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Recent satellite images suggest that North Korea may in a matter of days take another
step in its nuclear weapons program.
Also alarming is a report that Iranian scientists may have attended Tuesday's nuclear test which
raises questions about the level of collaboration between the two rogue states.
Our Kim Han-ul has our top story. New satellite images indicate that North Korea is doing
more work at its old rocket launch site.
The commercial satellite images were published by 38 North, a website affiliated with the
U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and show the Musudan-ri launch site off North
Korea's east coast.
Based on the images, taken last month, there is new construction at the facility that could
be part of the preparations for a liquid-fueled rocket, which could indicate that the North
may be planning another launch of its Unha-3 rocket.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Defense Ministry says it is keeping a close watch on the movement
near the site, although it refused to elaborate on the details.
"The military is keeping a daily watch on all of North Korea's long-range missile launch
sites, plus other mobile missile launch pads. So we are keeping a close watch on the North
to determine whether it will fire additional missiles."
Meanwhile, nuclear scientists from Iran were reportedly present during North Korea's third
nuclear test.
Japan's Kyodo news agency reported Friday, quoting a Western diplomatic source, that
Iran not only sent engineers, but also paid North Korea tens of millions of dollars in
Chinese yuan to observe the latest nuclear test.
Last April, North Korea and Iran signed an agreement for a science and technology exchange,
and analysts see this as a step toward collaboration between the two countries on nuclear weapons
technology.
"The South Korean Defense Ministry has not completely ruled out the possibility that
the North will launch another nuclear test, since it believes Pyongyang has been preparing
for that in various ways. The ministry spokesperson added that the military continues to be on
high alert.
Kim Han-ul, Arirang News."