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

Date: 2013

## The fact

On 12 February 2013 the DPRK conducted its third nuclear test, the first under [Kim Jong Un](/people/kim-jong-un). CTBTO and independent seismic services recorded the event; KCNA claimed it.

## 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.

## Evidence and sources

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

## Significance

The path is [missile-threat level](/drivers/missile-threat-level) and [sanctions pressure](/drivers/sanctions-pressure) from a completed nuclear test, not the 1949 [nuclear-escalation-risk](/drivers/nuclear-escalation-risk) row.

## What is established and what is not

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

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

What would change the picture: a contradictory original with a different date or name, a later repeal, a court that vacated the instrument, or a measured series that can be argued, with lag and alternatives, as a consequence of this instrument rather than of later institutions.

The date is the date of this instrument, not a licence to back-date every later harm or benefit.

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. DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch on 2013-02-12 is not a licence to treat every later CTBTO communique as this same act. If a later repeal, stay, or successor instrument exists, it needs its own date and its own row. This dossier refuses to average DPRK conducts its third nuclear test, the first on Kim Jong Un’s watch into a personality. 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.

## People

- Kim Jong-un: https://factrail.ai/people/kim-jong-un

## Drivers

- Missile-Threat Level: https://factrail.ai/drivers/missile-threat-level
- Sanctions Pressure: https://factrail.ai/drivers/sanctions-pressure
- Nuclear Escalation Risk: https://factrail.ai/drivers/nuclear-escalation-risk

## Sources

- https://www.ctbto.org/our-work/detecting-nuclear-tests/2013-dprk-nuclear-test
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-korea-north-nuclear-idUSBRE91B0Y20130212/

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

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