South Korean and global monitoring agencies reported Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 an quake near North Korea’s northeastern nuclear test site, a strong indication that Pyongyang had detonated its fifth atomic test explosion.
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South Korean President Park Geun-hye strongly condemned the test, saying in a statement that it showed the “fanatic recklessness of the Kim Jong Un government as it clings to nuclear development”.
National security adviser Susan Rice briefed President Barack Obama about the situation, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told pool reporters aboard Air Force One on the USA leader’s return trip from Asia. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Park and with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “The president reiterated the unbreakable USA commitment to the security of our allies in Asia and around the world”, Earnest said. “We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our regional partners”, Price said.
The blast had the explosive power of 10 kilotons, nearly twice as large as the previous test, said Kim Nam-wook of South Korea’s Meteorological Administration. “Our monitoring stations picked up an unusual seismic event in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) today at 00:30 (UTC)”.
North Korea has just been shaken by 5.3 magnitude natural disaster that analysts say is caused by another nuclear testing. North Korea said after its third test in 2013 it had created nuclear missiles capable of reaching the USA, but produced little proof, drawing skepticism from arms experts.
It’s important to remember, when reading about North Korea, that much of what they release is propaganda, so skepticism is always advised. Therefore, it calls for the North Korean authorities to abide by the United Nations resolutions, and immediately stop any action that will harm regional security.
The latest test was announced on state TV hours after a 5.3 magnitude tremor was detected near the Punggye-ri underground nuclear site.
“By standardizing and normalizing the nuclear warhead, we will be able to produce as many smaller, lighter and more diversified nuclear warheads as we need”, the North said.
“No one should be surprised that North Korea continues to conduct nuclear tests to enhance the capabilities of its growing arsenal”.
North Korea said it has hit the button on its fifth and potentially most powerful nuclear test Friday morning, claiming to have successfully tested a nuclear warhead. “What we can tell from the seismic waves so far is that this is likely not a thermonuclear test”, said 38 North managing director Jenny Town.
The situation has intensified as the North condemned annual U.S.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a robust increase in the number and kinds of missiles tested this year.
“As to the possible sanctions to be adopted by UN Security Council”.
Pyongyang likely wanted to show the world that strong global sanctions following its fourth nuclear test and long-range rocket launch earlier this year haven’t discouraged its efforts to advance its nuclear weapons and missiles programs, according to Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University. Chinese and Japanese officials also launched radiological testing protocols to determine whether any radioactive material from the test can be detected, according to the Associated Press. Any move to impose new worldwide sanctions would require the approval of China, the North’s only ally.
Friday’s test also marked the shortest interval yet between its previous test, which occurred in January.
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The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Some 28,500 US servicemembers are stationed in the South.
