Explosive threat many times worse than atomic bombs

A HYDROGEN bomb is potentially vastly more destructive than the atomic bombs that devastated the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in August 1945.

The H-bomb, as it is colloquially known, derives much of its power from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes.

Unlike an atomic bomb, which works by a fission process where uranium or plutonium is split into lighter elements, a hydrogen bomb functions by the fusing of lighter elements into heavier elements.

The end product still weighs less than its components, with the difference appearing as vast quantities of energy.

Hydrogen bombs are also known as thermonuclear bombs, because extremely high temperatures are needed to start fusion reactions.

An atomic bomb forms the centre of a hydrogen bomb, which, when it explodes, supplies these temperatures.

The nuclear fusions then create enough neutrons to trigger further fission reactions in the atomic core, steadily increasing the explosive power.

High pressures in the centre of the explosion cause shockwaves, which contain most of the energy released and are responsible for the major part of the destructive effects of a nuclear bomb.

The results vary depending on whether it is detonated in the air, underwater or underground.

North Korea’s state media said the country’s leader Kim Jong Un had inspected the loading of a hydrogen bomb into a new intercontinental ballistic missile.

There has been some scepticism from experts about Pyongyang’s assertion that it has mastered hydrogen technology, but it is almost impossible to independently confirm North Korean statements about its highly secretive weapons programme.

The UK’s nuclear weapons would never be engaged in a Korean conflict, according to Tom Plant, director of proliferation and nuclear policy at think tank the Royal United Services Institute. He said Britain would more likely support any conflict through intelligence and logistics, adding: “I think all parties recognise that Britain’s role in any escalation or in the end stage of any conflict would be pretty limited.”