North Korea says it has 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. But if Pyongyang’s missiles are fired and headed towards Seoul, South Korea will use the Korean Air and Missile Defense System to intercept the missiles before they hit designated targets. “Today’s nuclear test, a flagrant violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, makes clear North Korea’s disregard for global norms and standards for behavior and demonstrates it has no interest in being a responsible member of the worldwide community”. In addition, according to the resolution, United Nations member states’ banks can not trade with North Korean banks identified as the financiers of nuclear programs and Pyongyang’s missiles program.
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Meanwhile, North Korea said the test had been of a newly developed nuclear warhead and that it is now capable of mounting a nuclear device on ballistic rockets. North and South Korea technically remain in a state of war.
The quake was located near North Korea’s Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site, where all of the country’s tests have been carried out since it began testing in 2006 and where recent satellite imagery had shown fresh activity.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn of South Korea called an emergency meeting of top security officials, while his boss, President Park Geun-hye, cut short a visit to Laos, the president’s office said.
“The only thing that (the) Kim Jong Un regime can gain from the nuclear tests is stronger sanctions from the worldwide community and its isolation”.
The third defense stage, dubbed the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, will target the regime’s leader and military headquarters by firing off numerous precision guided missiles as well as deploying Special Forces units to the North. Seoul and Washington are also considering stationing a USA strategic weaponry near the Korean peninsula at all times.
“The nuclear test and surface-to-surface missile tests that preceded it require the continued action of the global community against North Korean proliferation in many areas to countries in the Middle East”.
Rather than a bargaining chip used to gain more foreign aid or access to the world stage, it appears that the country’s nuclear weapons program boils down to a matter of dignity and national pride.
“We strongly urge the DPRK side to honor the commitment to denuclearization, abide by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and halt any moves that could aggravate the situation”, the statement said.
North Korea has also been angered by a US and South Korean plan to install an anti-missile defence system in the South and by the allies’ massive annual joint military exercises, which are still taking place.
The state’s television service confirmed the test occurred Friday morning, local time, on the 68th anniversary of North Korea’s founding.
There was no other immediate reaction from China.
Pyongyang also has conducted several recent missile tests, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile in August.
To be clear, the United States does not, and never will, accept North Korea as a nuclear state.
Outside monitors will now attempt to analyse the yield to try to determine what kind of a breakthrough it represents, particularly whether it is a standard atomic bomb or a more powerful hydrogen, or thermonuclear bomb. “Even if they can mount it (on a missile), the technology for weaponizing it is a separate issue. The answer on both counts right now is probably ‘No, ‘” Kelly said in email exchange Friday.
According to estimates, the yield of this test is about 10 kilotons, which is believed to be Pyongyang’s most powerful nuclear detonation to date.
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From Vienna, the United Nations atomic watchdog said North Korea’s nuclear test clearly disregarded the demands of the worldwide community.
