Japan Quake Raises Fears of 2nd N. Korea Test
Pastor Dale Morgan
Japan Quake Raises Fears of 2nd N. Korea Test*
Oct 10 9:58 PM US/Eastern
By CARL FREIRE
Associated Press Writer
TOKYO
A strong earthquake in northern Japan on Wednesday may have led the
Tokyo government to suspect that North Korea had conducted a second
nuclear test.
In Washington, White House spokesman Blair Jones said U.S. officials had
not detected any evidence of additional North Korea testing.
"Japanese officials are now saying that this occurrence may be related
to an earthquake in northern Japan," Jones said.
The earthquake came at a time when the Japanese government and other
countries in Asia were jittery about reports that North Korea planned a
second nuclear test.
"We have very real concerns that they may conduct another nuclear test
and that they may do so very soon," Australian Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer told reporters on Wednesday, a day after he met with
North Korea's ambassador to his country.
The scare began when Japanese media reported the government had detected
tremors in North Korea, leading it to suspect Pyongyang had conducted a
second nuclear test. Around the same time, the Japanese meteorological
agency said a strong earthquake shook northern Japan.
Then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he had no information to
confirm North Korea had conducted a second nuclear test.
"I have had not received information about any indications ... that a
test has take place," Abe said at a parliamentary budget meeting.
U.S. and South Korean monitors said they detected no new seismic
activity Wednesday in North Korea.