This Jan. 23, 2013 satellite image shows what is now known were preparations for today’s underground nuclear test at North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test facility. North Korea also conducted nuclear tests at this facility in 2006 and 2009. (AP Photo/GeoEye Satellite Image)
North Korea’s third nuclear test likely represents significant progress in the development of its nuclear program — particularly if it was successful, as it says it was, in testing a “miniaturized” device. It will be difficult for the United States to verify the “miniaturized” claim, but essential if the United States is serious about doing the kind of intelligence-gathering necessary to defend South Korea, Japan and even the United States against a future missile attack.
Click here to read the full analysis from top intelligence experts at LIGNET.com.
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