North Korea dares America again, this time with Mother of all Bombs
North Korea carried out its most powerful nuclear test to date on Sunday, claiming to have developed an advanced hydrogen bomb that could sit atop an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The bomb used in the country’s sixth nuclear test sent tremors across the region that were 10 times more powerful than Pyongyang’s previous experiment a year ago, Japanese officials said.
The device was eight times more powerful than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, according to NORSAR, a Norway-based group that monitors nuclear tests. While the type of bomb used and its size have not been independently verified, if true, the pariah state is a significant step closer to being able to fire a nuclear warhead to the US mainland, as it has repeatedly threatened it could if provoked.
Pyongyang has ratcheted up its ballistic missile testing this year and engaged in a fiery exchange of threats with US President Donald Trump. It has developed projectiles that it says could reach the US mainland, and some experts agree that’s likely true.
North Korean state media released images claiming that Kim Jong Un watched a hydrogen bomb being loaded onto a new ICBM. That claim has not been verified.
Sunday’s nuclear test is the first since Trump took office, and the President condemned the test in a tweet on Sunday morning. “Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States,” he wrote, adding, “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.” “We strongly urge (the) North Korea side to face up to the firm will of the international community on the denuclearization of the peninsula, abide by relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and stop taking wrong actions that exacerbate the situation,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
India, too, said that North Korea should “refrain from actions which disturb peace and stability in the region and beyond”. In a high-level national security meeting, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called the test “an absurd strategic mistake” that will lead to the international community further isolating Pyongyang.
China on Sunday strongly condemned North Korea’s sixth nuclear test and asked the reclusive nation to “cease” its “incorrect actions” and return to the dialogue table for denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea claimed on Sunday that it successfully conducted a test of a hydrogen bomb meant to be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is the rogue nation’s sixth, and most powerful, nuclear test.
China, North Korea’s main diplomatic ally, criticised the country for ignoring international condemnation of its atomic weapons programme.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has once again conducted a nuclear test in spite of widespread opposition from the international community. The Chinese government resolutely opposes and strongly condemns it.”
“North Korea has ignored the international community's widespread opposition and conducted a nuclear test again. The Chinese government expresses resolute objection to and strong condemnation of it,” the statement said.
It said that China’s firm stance, as well as the common goal of the international community, was achieving denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, protecting the nuclear nonproliferation mechanism and maintaining peace and stability in northeast Asia.
It asked North Korea “to seriously consider” the steadfast will of the international community on a denuclearised Korean Peninsula and to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions.
The environment ministry announced on its social media account that it began "emergency radiation monitoring" along its northeastern border shortly before noon.
Pyongyang action very dangerous: US
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump today called North Korea’s actions “very hostile and dangerous” to the United States, after Pyongyang conducted its sixth nuclear test. “North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test,” Trump said on Twitter. “Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States.” Trump had a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and agreed to have close cooperation between their countries to put pressure on North Korea.
France urges firm response
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron called for a “very firm” response by the international community to North Korea’s announcement that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. “The international community must be very firm in its handling of this latest provocation, in order to get North Korea to unconditionally return to talks and proceed with the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear and ballistic programmes,” Macron said in a statement.
Isolate Pyongyang: South Korea
SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday ordered all available diplomatic efforts to completely isolate North Korea after Pyongyang’s sixth nuclear test earlier in the day. Moon convened an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting, which lasted for oneand-half hours from 1.30 p.m. (local time), according to the presidential Blue House. The meeting was called to discuss countermeasures following Pyongyang’s test of what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb that can be loaded onto a ballistic missile.
Nuclear test a grave threat: Japan
TOKYO: Japan’s prime minister slammed North Korea’s nuclear test on Sunday as “absolutely unacceptable” and said its nuclear and missile programmes now pose a “more grave and urgent” threat to his country. “The fact that North Korea forced through a nuclear test this time is absolutely unacceptable to our country,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a statement. “North Korea’s nuclear and missile development programme is a threat that is more grave and urgent to the safety of our country and has entered a new stage,” Abe said.