Skip to content
eventVerified

DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch

On 12 February 2013 the DPRK conducted its third nuclear test, the first under Kim Jong Un. In the causal graph this event strengthens Sanctions Pressure, a driver that strengthens Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

On 12 February 2013 the DPRK conducted its third nuclear test, the first under Kim Jong Un.

Context

UNSC products followed. He commanded the programme. The KPA and nuclear bureau executed. He does not write CTBTO technical reports.

2013 test; 2017 sixth test. Keep DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch on 2013-02-12 separate from neighbouring nuclear-test, camp, Vostochny, treaty, and troop-despatch instruments.

The President of the State Affairs Commission commands the armed forces and signs treaties.

Why it matters

The path is missile-threat level and sanctions pressure from a completed nuclear test, not the 1949 nuclear-escalation-risk row.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Kim Jong-un

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    verified

    He commanded the programme. The nuclear bureau executed. CTBTO did not.

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.CTBTO — 2013 DPRK Announced Nuclear Test (12 February 2013)CTBTO · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Reuters — North Korea conducts third nuclear testReuters · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

CTBTO and independent seismic services recorded the event; KCNA claimed it.

CTBTO carries the official instrument or communique. Reuters records the same dated act independently.

Established: A nuclear test on 12 February 2013 under Kim Jong Un, independently recorded.

Not established: A unique Seoul casualty coefficient from the yield.

The nuclear bureau executed. CTBTO did not.. A later repeal, court stay, or successor order would be a different Fact with a different date. That pair identifies DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch, not a later speech about DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch.

Co-authors and later implementers named in Context remain on the file. If a later repeal, stay, or successor instrument exists, it needs its own date and its own row. The contribution described on this Person row is limited to He commanded the programme. The nuclear bureau executed. CTBTO did not. That limit is the alternative to treating office-holding as authorship of every later series.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorKim Jong-un
  2. contributed toFactDPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch
  3. strengthensDrivers (3)Sanctions Pressure
  4. strengthensIndicatorPoverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/kp-nuclear-test-2013

https://factrail.ai/facts/kp-nuclear-test-2013

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

Dispute this factNamed here, or represent someone who is? Request a right of reply.