North Korea Says Its Sixth
Nuclear Test Was a
Missile-Ready Hydrogen Bomb
Updated: Sep 03, 2017 11:32 AM ET
North Korea carried out a sixth nuclear test on Sunday morning,
triggering a 5.7 magnitude tremor in the northeast of the country,
which the rogue state claimed was caused by the detonation of a
hydrogen bomb that could be fitted to a ballistic missile.
triggering a 5.7 magnitude tremor in the northeast of the country,
which the rogue state claimed was caused by the detonation of a
hydrogen bomb that could be fitted to a ballistic missile.
Although such claims should be treated with caution, as the regime
also bragged that its fifth test in September 2016 was a hydrogen
bomb — an assertion largely dismissed by experts
— Sunday's estimated 120 kiloton explosion is around ten times
the magnitude of its previous test, and clearly shows the Kim Jong
Un regime's technical capabilities are advancing.
also bragged that its fifth test in September 2016 was a hydrogen
bomb — an assertion largely dismissed by experts
— Sunday's estimated 120 kiloton explosion is around ten times
the magnitude of its previous test, and clearly shows the Kim Jong
Un regime's technical capabilities are advancing.
“If it’s a hydrogen bomb, it’s a very small one,” says Ryan Barenklau,
the CEO of Washington, D.C.–based think-tank Strategic Sentinel.
the CEO of Washington, D.C.–based think-tank Strategic Sentinel.
In a tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the test:
"North Korea has conducted a major nuclear test.
Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous
to the United States."
"North Korea has conducted a major nuclear test.
Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous
to the United States."
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North Korea's state media confirmed
the test, which it hailed as a “perfect success,”
just an hour before Chinese President
Xi Jinping delivered his keynote speech
to world leaders the opening of a
BRICS summitin China’s southern city
of Xiamen. Xi did not mention the
test in his speech, though China’s
Foreign Ministry released a statement that
“strongly condemned” it. Tremors were felt
as far away as the Chinese city of Changchun,
some 250 miles north-west
of North Korea’s Punggye-ri test site.
the test, which it hailed as a “perfect success,”
just an hour before Chinese President
Xi Jinping delivered his keynote speech
to world leaders the opening of a
BRICS summitin China’s southern city
of Xiamen. Xi did not mention the
test in his speech, though China’s
Foreign Ministry released a statement that
“strongly condemned” it. Tremors were felt
as far away as the Chinese city of Changchun,
some 250 miles north-west
of North Korea’s Punggye-ri test site.
North Korea typically times missile and nuclear tests to
coincide with important holidays and events in China in a
sign of fraying relations between the historic allies.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner
though its government is increasingly perturbed by Kim’s
relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and has signed onto
stiff new U.N. sanctions.
coincide with important holidays and events in China in a
sign of fraying relations between the historic allies.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner
though its government is increasingly perturbed by Kim’s
relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and has signed onto
stiff new U.N. sanctions.
“The timing is a slap to China," says Barenklau. "North Korea
is saying that it doesn’t care what China thinks or does."
is saying that it doesn’t care what China thinks or does."
Despite the international pressure, missile and nuclear tests
have continued unabated. North Korea is intent on developing a
nuclear-armed ballistic missile capable of reaching the continenta
l U.S., and recent missile launches indicate it is close to that goal.
The regime is believed to have more than a dozen nuclear
weapons, and on Sunday morning before the test released
pictures of Kim examining what appeared to be a miniaturized
nuclear weapon capable of fitting on a ballistic missile.
have continued unabated. North Korea is intent on developing a
nuclear-armed ballistic missile capable of reaching the continenta
l U.S., and recent missile launches indicate it is close to that goal.
The regime is believed to have more than a dozen nuclear
weapons, and on Sunday morning before the test released
pictures of Kim examining what appeared to be a miniaturized
nuclear weapon capable of fitting on a ballistic missile.
“It shows that the state has the long-term will and determination
to do it despite the costs,” says Daniel Pinkston, a Korea expert at
Troy University in South Korea, referring to the sanctions.
“But the North Korean people pay a very high price for this.”
to do it despite the costs,” says Daniel Pinkston, a Korea expert at
Troy University in South Korea, referring to the sanctions.
“But the North Korean people pay a very high price for this.”
South Korea immediately convened a national security council
meeting after the test, which U.S. seismologists say was recorded
at a depth of six miles (10 km). China's Earthquake Administration
said the quake was caused by a "suspected explosion."
Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, called the test "a matter of grave concern."
meeting after the test, which U.S. seismologists say was recorded
at a depth of six miles (10 km). China's Earthquake Administration
said the quake was caused by a "suspected explosion."
Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, called the test "a matter of grave concern."
Russia's Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning
the test, and calling on "all interested parties to immediately
return to dialogue and negotiations as the only possible way
for an overall settlement of the problems of the Korean peninsula.
" Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the test
“absolutely unacceptable.”
the test, and calling on "all interested parties to immediately
return to dialogue and negotiations as the only possible way
for an overall settlement of the problems of the Korean peninsula.
" Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the test
“absolutely unacceptable.”
During an emergency telephone call after the test, U.S
. national security adviser HR McMaster reassured his
Japanese counterpart, Shotarou Taniuchi, the director-general
of the Japanese national security council, that Washington
was steadfastly committed to defending Japan — including with
its nuclear deterrent.
. national security adviser HR McMaster reassured his
Japanese counterpart, Shotarou Taniuchi, the director-general
of the Japanese national security council, that Washington
was steadfastly committed to defending Japan — including with
its nuclear deterrent.
Sunday's test is another headache for Trump, who has made
disarming North Korea of its nuclear arsenal a foreign policy
priority. Trump said that “all options remain on the table”
after North Korea fired a missile over Japan last week, though
military strikes would be a last resort given that U.S. allies
South Korea and Japan could be devastated by North Korea’s
conventional and possibly also nuclear retaliation.
disarming North Korea of its nuclear arsenal a foreign policy
priority. Trump said that “all options remain on the table”
after North Korea fired a missile over Japan last week, though
military strikes would be a last resort given that U.S. allies
South Korea and Japan could be devastated by North Korea’s
conventional and possibly also nuclear retaliation.
Trump has therefore resorted to pressurizing China to tighten
financial restrictions on North Korea, like former President
Barack Obama did before him. In a tweet, Trump said:
"North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great
threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help
but with little success."
financial restrictions on North Korea, like former President
Barack Obama did before him. In a tweet, Trump said:
"North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great
threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help
but with little success."
However, analysts say Beijing will never squeeze so hard as to
foment the collapse of the regime, fearful of an influx of refugees
and a unified, U.S.-allied Korean peninsular ruled from Seoul,
possibly putting American troops on its doorstep.
foment the collapse of the regime, fearful of an influx of refugees
and a unified, U.S.-allied Korean peninsular ruled from Seoul,
possibly putting American troops on its doorstep.
On Friday, Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in
agreed to ramp up U.S. missile defenses in South Korea,
where one American THAAD anti-missile battery is
currently deployed. China is vehemently opposed to THAAD,
believing its exceptional surveillance capabilities pose a
security threat, and has targeted South Korean
businesses in response.
agreed to ramp up U.S. missile defenses in South Korea,
where one American THAAD anti-missile battery is
currently deployed. China is vehemently opposed to THAAD,
believing its exceptional surveillance capabilities pose a
security threat, and has targeted South Korean
businesses in response.
