We are trying to figure out whether it was successful.
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North Korea said it conducted a “higher level” nuclear warhead test explosion, one that will allow it to finally build an array of stronger, smaller and lighter nuclear weapons. “My deep fear is that they will launch a live nuclear weapon on one of their missiles, but that would be extremely risky as that could trigger a war”, said Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
Park said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was showing “maniacal recklessness” in completely ignoring the world’s call to abandon his pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The nuclear test was the country’s fifth in the past decade and the third under Kim Jong Un, who has drawn an ever tightening web of United Nations sanctions on his tiny economy, as well as unilateral punitive trade and financial measures by the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Obama called the nuclear test a “provocation” and reiterated that the United States was committed to the security of its allies in Asia and throughout the world, Efe news reported citing a White House statement.
Obama said he noted Xi’s objection to Thaad and that the U.S.is not looking for a diplomatic tussle over the missile shield.
Seismic activity of magnitude 5.3 had earlier been detected at around 9am local time, China News Service reports.
A South Korean military official later said it “was in fact North Korea’s fifth nuclear test”, adding that it appeared to have the “impact” of a 10-kiloton explosion.
The bomb dropped by the USA on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield of about 15 kilotonnes. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was firmly opposed to the test and officials would speak to counterparts at the North Korean embassy in Beijing. Our initial location estimate shows that the event took place in the area of the DPRK’s nuclear test site.
“We will continue to strengthen our capacity to bolster nuclear force”, the media outlet said. Tremors from the test were detected by Japan’s meteorological agency.
A small number of mining carts could be seen as well as a new canopy created to hide activity to the site, analysts said.
In January, North Korea claimed to have conducted a hydrogen bomb test, but many foreign governments and experts were skeptical about the claim.
North Korea’s recent nuclear test is the second one in just eight months, and South Korea says it’s the largest yet.
Rim Jong Su, the 42-year-old Pyongyang resident, said, “Now, I am full of confidence that if the enemies make any little provocations we will make a counter attack and we will surely win”. Further and even tougher sanctions are still possible, like blocking the export of fuel oil to North Korea.
North Korea has been hit by five sets of United Nations sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006, but has insisted it will continue, arguing it faces an existential threat from U.S. aggression. It also has a ban on port entry of all North Korean vessels.
The big question for the global community is whether it can match its condemnation of North Korea with action, according to Scott Snyder, a senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. There’s no prospect right now for any talks or negotiations. He said “this escalation is unacceptable”.
This comes on the heels of three ballistic missile tests conducted by North Korea last week, as world powers gathered for a G20 meeting in China.
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“We insist that North Korea stop its unsafe adventurism, abide by all resolutions of the UN Security Council, cease its nuclear missile programs and re-join the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
