If a nuclear test is confirmed, it could have been timed by North Korea to coincide with the anniversary of its 1948 foundation as a republic. The suspected test would make the second this year following the fourth detonation of a nuclear device in January that placed Pyongyang under toughest-ever sanctions from the United Nations Security Council.
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“In the wake of this test, there have been very strong words from South Korea but those kinds of strong words from the South or the UN Security Council or anyone else have so far done nothing to slow down what has been going on under the leadership of Kim Jong-un”. “China has done more on sanctions implementation than they have on previous UN Security Council resolutions”, Obama said.
North Korea is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs and has spent decades trying to ideal a multi-stage, long-range missile to eventually carry smaller versions of the bombs. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear programme in exchange for aid were last held in late 2008 and fell apart in early 2009, when North Korea was led by Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011.
In a statement, the USGS added: “Possible explosion, near the location where North Korea has detonated nuclear explosions in the past”.
“North Korea’s nuclear development is a grave threat to Japan’s safety”, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. “As a South Korean citizen, I deplore this”.
– January 6: North Korea conducts its fourth nuclear test and says it successfully tested a “miniaturized” hydrogen bomb.
Kim had threatened to conduct another nuclear test and repeatedly has claimed his country has the capacity to carry out pre-emptive strikes, although he insists it is for self-defense.
The agency’s executive secretary, Lassina Zerbo, says in a statement that Friday’s detonation seems to have been slightly larger than the one recorded on January 6. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted by AP said that China “resolutely opposes” the test and criticized Pyongyang for its “disregard” for worldwide sanctions.
South Korea’s military says it is analyzing whether North Korea has conducted its fifth nuclear test after seismic activity was reported Friday morning.
China has provided cover to North Korea from worldwide denunciations of its nuclear program.
The statement did not indicate whether China would take any immediate action or support new sanctions.
Today is North Korea’s national day – a date often used to show the state’s military might.
Obama returned to Washington from a trip to Asia just before 1 a.m. EDT Friday.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the test a “self-destructive” provocation by its arch enemy. Experts say they are likely aimed at refining warhead design and reliability as well as increasing yield.
North Korean state media have reported it was of a “newly developed nuclear warhead” and that it was now capable of mounting a nuclear device on ballistic rockets.
“In reality, the means by which the United States, South Korea and Japan can put pressure on North Korea have reached their limits”, he said.
North Korea said the test had been of a nuclear warhead that could be mounted on a ballistic missile and that it was now in a position to produce as many “smaller, lighter and diversified” nuclear weapons as it wanted “at will”.
Meanwhile, China’s environment ministry has begun emergency monitoring for radiation along its northeastern border with North Korea.
North Korea on Friday said it “successfully” conducted a nuclear test, its fifth and the “most powerful” test so far, Yonhap news agency reported.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said North Korea’s nuclear programme “seriously undermines” global peace and security and that Tokyo would consider further sanctions. This was swiftly followed by a long-range ballistic missile test.
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North Korean nuclear tests are usually heralded by chatter among analysts about preparations at Punggye-ri but there had been little discussion in recent weeks over any signs.
