OVERVIEW: DPRK 2016 ANNOUNCED TEST
At 01:30:00 (UTC) on 06 January 2016 the CTBTO's monitoring stations picked up an unusual seismic event in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The location and magnitude is similar to the event our system registered on 12 February 2013. Our initial location estimate shows that the event took place in the area of the DPRK’s nuclear test site. The following analysis confirmed that the event was a man-made explosion. The DPRK also claimed on 6 January that it has conducted yet another nuclear test, the fourth since 2006.
Latest Technical Findings
VIDEOS - PRESS BRIEFINGS
07 January 2016
Update on the seismic event detected in North Korea with ES Lassina Zerbo.
06 January 2016
UN New York press briefing with ES Lassina Zerbo via video link
06 January 2016
Press Stakeout with Randy Bell, CTBTO's Director of the International Data Centre.
Special meeting of CTBTO Member States
A special meeting of the CTBTO's highest decision-making body, the Preparatory Commission, on 7 January 2016 was informed of the latest technical findings. Member States stated their concern over the announced nuclear test and stressed the importance of the early entry into force of the CTBT.
Report of the 45th Session of the Preparatory Commission (PDF)
Previous DPRK nuclear tests
Press Centre
09 September 2016
PRESS RELEASE: CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo on the unusual seismic event detected in the DPRK
07 January 2016
PRESS RELEASE: Statement by the Chairperson of the Preparatory Commission, Amb. Cristian Istrate
07 January 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY: Update on the Seismic Event Detected in North Korea
06 January 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY: Media Stakeout on unusual seismic event in Korean Peninsula
06 January 2016
PRESS RELEASE: CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo on the unusual seismic event detected in the DPRK / French version
Reactions
International Organizations
UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General, EU, IAEA, NATO
Member States
Austria, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru (S), Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
VERIFICATION
VIDEO: The Day We Caught a Nuclear Explosion: How CTBTO and Member States experts detected and analyzed the 2013 announced DPRK nuclear test.
A network of over 300 monitoring stations constantly monitors the globe for signs of nuclear explosions. See interactive map and website chapter on how the CTBTO monitors for nuclear tests.
