2009 North Korean nuclear test

2009 North Korean nuclear test
Graphic from the United States Geological Survey showing the location of seismic activity at the time of the test
Information
Country	North Korea
Test site	41°18′22″N 129°01′44″E / 41.306°N 129.029°E / 41.306; 129.029,Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, Kilju County.
Period	00:54:43, 25 May 2009 (2009-05-25T00:54:43) UTC
Number of tests	1
Test type	Underground
Device type	Fission
Max. yield	2.4 kilotons of TNT (10 TJ)(Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission) 2.35 kilotons of TNT (9.8 TJ)(Estimation from Chinese academics) 5.1–8.9 kilotons of TNT (21–37 TJ)(Estimations from University of Science and Technology of China) 5.4 kilotons of TNT (23 TJ)(Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources estimates in Jan 2016), which was revised from earlier estimates at 13 kilotons of TNT (54 TJ) in 2013 10–20 kilotons of TNT (42–84 TJ) (Russian estimates) 1–20 kilotons of TNT (4.2–83.7 TJ) (South Korea Defense Minister estimates) 3–8 kilotons of TNT (13–33 TJ) (Analyst Martin Kalinowski at the University of Hamburg) 2–6 kilotons of TNT (8.4–25.1 TJ), but likely less than 4 kilotons of TNT (17 TJ) (Hans M. Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists)
Navigation
Previous test	2006 test
Next test	2013 test

The 2009 North Korean nuclear test was the underground detonation of a nuclear device conducted on Monday, May 25, 2009 by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This was its second nuclear test, the first test, a fizzle, having taken place in October 2006. Following the nuclear test, Pyongyang also conducted several missile tests. A scientific paper later estimated the yield as 2.35 kilotons.

The test was nearly universally condemned by the international community. Following the test, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1874 condemning the test and tightening sanctions on the country.

It was widely believed that the test was conducted as a result of a succession crisis in the country. After Kim Jong-Il suffered a stroke in the summer of 2008, arrangements were made for his third son, Kim Jong-un, to take power upon his death. It is believed the North Koreans conducted the nuclear test to show that, even in a time of possible weakness, it did not intend to give up its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) had threatened to conduct a second nuclear test in protest after the United Nations Security Council adopted a presidential statement condemning the country after it launched a rocket, which it claimed was carrying the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 satellite, on 5 April 2009. The launch was condemned by several nations, describing it as an intercontinental ballistic missile test.