SEOUL ¨C South Korea said on Wednesday traces of radioactive xenon gas were confirmed to be from a North Korean nuclear test earlier this month, but it was unable to conclude whether the test had been a hydrogen bomb as Pyongyang claimed.
North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3, prompting the U.N. Security Council to step up sanctions with a ban on the reclusive regime¡¯s textile exports and a cap on fuel supplies.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) said its land-based xenon detector in the northeastern part of the country found traces of xenon-133 isotope on nine occasions, while its mobile equipment off the country¡¯s east coast detected traces of the isotope four times.
¡°It was difficult to find out how powerful the nuclear test was with the amount of xenon detected, but we can say the xenon was from North Korea,¡± Choi Jongbae, executive commissioner, told a news conference in Seoul.
The commission could not confirm what kind of nuclear test the North conducted, he added.
Xenon is a naturally occurring, colorless gas that is used in manufacturing of some sorts of lights. But the detected xenon-133 is a radioactive isotope that does not occur naturally and which has been linked to North Korea¡¯s nuclear tests in the past.
The NSSC also said the xenon traces detected had no impact on South Korea¡¯s environment and population.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.