Eric Weiner reports on the status of North Korea's push to build a nuclear weapon arsenal, and the diplomatic efforts underway to try to get the nation to return to the negotiating table. U.S. officials are worried that North Korea is preparing to conduct underground nuclear tests.
ALEX CHADWICK, host: Here's a subject for concern in case all those assembled world leaders      get bored with World War II nostalgia--North Korea's nuclear weapons.      There were reports last week that recent US satellite images show that      North Korea may be getting ready to conduct an underground nuclear test.      DAY TO DAY's Eric Weiner reports.</s>ALEX CHADWICK, host: ERIC WEINER reporting:</s>ALEX CHADWICK, host: A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says US spy      satellites have detected signs of unusual activity at Gilju, a suspected      test site in the northeast of the country.  That activity includes the      digging of a tunnel and construction of a viewing stand.  This could mean      that North Korea is making preparations for an underground nuclear test,      something it has threatened to do.  Or it could be an elaborate ruse,      designed to ratchet up pressure on the US and its allies in the region.      Like nearly everything having to do with North Korea, the facts are      murky, the intelligence unreliable.  Mark Gwozdecky is a spokesman for      the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.</s>Mr. MARK GWOZDECKY (International Atomic Energy Agency): North Korea's a      black hole, not only for us but for all the intelligence agencies trying      to gather information there.  Certainly we all have access to satellite      imagery, but satellite pictures can only tell you so much.  It doesn't      tell us what they're doing is an actual test site or whether it's an      elaborate bluff aimed at trying to extract some leverage at the      negotiating table.  But unfortunately, they're not at the negotiating      table, so it's very difficult to define what's behind all this.</s>WEINER: In fact, North Korea has not been at the negotiating table for      nearly a year.  That's when talks it was holding with the US and four      other nations collapsed.  South Korea, one of the participants in those      talks, says the diplomatic efforts have reached a critical moment and      warn that patience with Pyongyang is wearing thin.  But Moon Chung-in, an      adviser to the South Korean president, says part of the problem also lies      in Washington.  US policy on North Korea, he says, can be inconsistent.</s>Ms. MOON CHUNG-IN (Adviser to South Korean President): North Korea's      still confused about American intention and policy in North Korea, and      conflicting signals coming from Washington, DC.  On the one hand, yes, we      want to have a talk with you; on the other hand, you an outpost of      tyranny.</s>WEINER: All of these developments--the diplomatic impasse, the possible      preparations for a nuclear test and North Korea's recent firing of a      short-range missile--add up to a worrisome scenario, analysts say.  It's      been three months since North Korea declared it has nuclear weapons.  Now      the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog agency says the reclusive nation      may have five or six nuclear weapons.  Speaking on CNN, Mohamed Elbaradei      says it would be a grave mistake for North Korea to take the next step      and conduct an underground nuclear test.</s>WEINER: Mr. MOHAMED ELBARADEI (International Atomic Energy Agency) It would have      disastrous political repercussions.  I am not sure how much environmental      impact it could have in term of radiological fallout.  So I do hope that      the North Korean would absolutely reconsider such a reckless, reckless      step.</s>WEINER: Elbaradei urged world leaders to get on the phone immediately      and try to dissuade North Korea from conducting such a test, but that may      not be as easy as it sounds.  North Korea has resisted international      pressure for years. One South Korean official compared negotiating with      North Korea to wrestling with an eel.  Every time you try to grasp it, he      says, it slips out of your hands.</s>WEINER: Eric Weiner, NPR News.