Prelim Air Samples Show Radioactivity

Preliminary analysis of air samples from North Korea show radioactive content consistent with a nuclear test, U.S. intelligence officials say.

CNN Saturday said received from a congressional source the statement saying an assessment of air samples initially found debris consistent with a nuclear test in the vicinity of Punggye.

The assessment will be completed in the next few days, said the statement, which was sent to members of Congress, but not released to the public, CNN said.

The information in the statement conflicts with earlier U.S. government reports indicating air sampling over North Korea did not find evidence of radioactive debris. The White House said it has not confirmed that a nuclear test was conducted.

The U.N. Security Council was expected to vote Saturday on whether to impose sanctions on North Korea over the as-yet unconfirmed nuclear test.

If confirmed, the nuclear weapon test that North Korea claimed to have conducted Monday would be the first since Pakistan’s underground testing in 1998.