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The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization presented this early analysis of the May 25th, 2009 DPRK Nuclear Test. The report notes the magnitude and location of the seismic event as identified by 23 different seismic stations.

Karin Lee and Julia Choi of the National Committee on North Korea (http://www.ncnk.org/ncnk) write, “all sides may find it a difficult and slow process to rebuild the momentum lost in the last half a year. It will take a great deal of effort for the promise of sanction reversals implied by US actions in October 2008 to overcome the new momentum of April 2009.”

David Wright, co-director of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) Global Security Program, notes that “between April 4 and April 8 North Korea will attempt to place a satellite into space using the Unha-2 launcher. While some have characterized this as a ballistic missile test, a successful satellite launch wouldn’t necessarily demonstrate the ability to launch a nuclear warhead to intercontinental range. Modifications to increase the capability of the launcher pose both material and manufacturing challenges that North Korea may have yet to overcome.”

This is the full Notice to Mariners (NOTAM) for the anticipated DPRK satellite launch. The first impact zone is in the East Sea/Sea of Japan while the second is in the Pacific Ocean. The anticipated path of the launch is within 100 kilometers of the Rokkasho Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.

Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs, and Mary Beth Nikitin, Analyst in Nonproliferation, write, “Japanese officials and experts remain remarkably uniform in their consensus that Japan is unlikely to move toward nuclear status in the short-to-medium term. However, as the security environment has shifted significantly, the topic is no longer toxic and has been broached by several leading politicians.”

The Atlantic Council of the United States, non-partisan network of leaders who aim to promote constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs, published this report “of its three-year project on U.S. policy toward North Korea. This report makes clear that unless President Obama adopts a new strategy of seeking a comprehensive settlement in Korea, the U.S. is unlikely to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear program.”

Mark E. Manyin, Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, and Mary Beth Nikitin, Analyst in Nonproliferation at the Congressional Research Service, describe US assistance to North Korea including energy, food, and other forms of aid. This report looks at the changes in the amount of this aid as well as the issues for the US congress on the provision of this assistance.

Dick K. Nanto, Specialist in Industry and Trade Foreign Affairs in the Defense, and Trade Division, and Emma Chanlett-Avery, Analyst in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs in the Defense, and Trade Division, produced this report for the Congressional Research Service. The report presents an overview of the DPRK economy and notes recent changes in the economy, information on DPRK economic reforms, and profiles the country’s relationship with each of its major trade partners.

Emma Chanlett-Avery, Analyst in Asian Affairs at the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of the Congressional Research Service, and Mary Beth Nikitin, Analyst in Nonproliferation at the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, of the Congressional research Service, write, “The previous taboo within the Japanese political community of discussing a nuclear weapons capability appears to have been broken, as several officials and opinion leaders have urged an open debate on the topic. Despite these factors, a strong consensus – both in Japan and among Japan watchers – remains that Japan will not pursue the nuclear option in the short-to-medium term.”