SEOUL, South Korea - Now that North Korea's rocket launch has ended in failure, its next move could be even more provocative: a nuclear test.
That's what followed previous launches in 2006 and 2009, and experts suspect the government is under pressure to do so now after its rocket burst apart moments after liftoff Friday.
"This failure makes it even more likely that the North will now attempt a nuclear test in the not-too-distant future," said Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS, a Hawaii-based think tank. "The rocket launch was supposed to demonstrate the regime's power and technical prowess. A nuclear test may now be seen as even more necessary, not just to further perfect their weapons capability, but also to save face."
The possibility that North Korea is preparing for what would be its third nuclear test is supported by a South Korean intelligence report that concludes that excavation for a possible underground blast at the Punggye-ri nuclear testing area is in its final stages, citing recent satellite photos.
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A test could be conducted later this spring, said Lewis Franklin of the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University.
North Korea's missile and nuclear programs are tightly interwoven. It wants to develop a missile that can reach the United States and a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a missile. The combination would make the U.S. think twice before getting involved should any fighting break out between the two Koreas, which technically remain at war.
The launch Friday demonstrated North Korea has a long way to go before it can reliably mount an intercontinental ballistic missile attack - though it also shows it is willing to risk the international sanctions that such tests bring.
U.S. officials claim sanctions on North Korea have kept it from obtaining the guidance technology it needs to control multistage rockets.
"They still haven't gotten this worked out. This is not a good sign for them," said Greg Thielmann, a senior fellow at the Arms Control Association.
