“It is believed that the North’s nuclear capability is becoming more advanced to a considerable level, and at a faster pace”, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se told senior ministry officials, calling for “more and stronger sanctions”.
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The U.S. erupted in outrage, with President Barack Obama issuing a rare statement of his own condemning the test, vowing to seek “significant” new sanctions against the North and pledging never to accept Pyongyang as a nuclear state. The world leaders condemned the blast which was estimated to have an explosive power of 10 kilotons, nearly twice as large as the previous test, according to Kim Nam-wook of South Korea’s Meteorological Administration.
Sung Kim, the U.S. special envoy to North Korea said the UN Security Council along with Japan, South Korea and the United States are examining additional unilateral measures.
The country’s military also said it was implementing a new system which will allow them to “punish and retaliate” against North Korea’s leadership if it endangers the country with nuclear weapons. The Security Council is due to meet Friday.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said Monday that South Korea and US intelligence authorities believe North Korea has the ability to detonate another atomic device anytime at one of its tunnels at its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where the five previous atomic explosions took place.
“The Obama administration running around and talking about meaningless sanctions until today is highly laughable”, state media said Sunday.
“Cyprus calls upon the leadership in Pyongyang to abide by all its obligations, including those emanating from the relevant UNSC resolutions, abandon both its nuclear program and weapons and re-engage in a meaningful dialogue with the global community”, the statement added. The New York Times also highlighted the dangers, suggesting that the North will have the knowhow to develop a nuclear warhead by the year 2020. However, it has yet to pair the two successfully.
“China urges North Korea not to take any more actions that could exacerbate tensions, and return as soon as possible to the correct direction of denuclearisation”, Mr Zhang said.
“Gone are the days never to return when the U.S. could make a unilateral nuclear blackmail against the DPRK”, said Rodong Sinmun, using the country’s official name.
North Korea stands out as the only country to have tested nuclear weapons this century.
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The official said the United States is also planning to deploy a slew of other strategic military assets to South Korea, including the B-2 stealth nuclear bomber, down the road in a show of military might against North Korea.
