North Korea Claims It Tested a Hydrogen Bomb
Kim Jong-un at a military parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2015.
North Korea says it successfully tested a hydrogen nuclear bomb, a development which, if true, represents a significant advance in its military capabilities. Previously, the nation has tested plutonium weapons in three underground nuclear tests, but a hydrogen bomb is much more powerful.
Around 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, an earthquake was detectednear North Korea's nuclear test site, sparking concern that the nation had conducted a fourth nuclear test. A short time later, a statement was read on North Korean state TV claiming that the nation detonated a "miniaturized" hydrogen nuclear bomb, and the test was a "perfect success." "If there's no invasion on our sovereignty we will not use nuclear weapon," the statement said. "This H-bomb test brings us to a higher level of nuclear power."
Statements from North Korea are notoriously untrustworthy – last summer the nation claimed to have invented a vaccine for Ebola, HIV, and "a number of cancers" – but obviously this is a concerning development. Here's what we know so far.
Did North Korea actually test a hydrogen bomb?
It seems highly likely that North Korea conducted some kind of nuclear test. The U.S. Geological Survey measured Wednesday morning's seismic activity, which took place northeast of Sungjibaegam, at a magnitude of 5.1, and South Korean experts said it appeared the quake was caused by a man-made explosion. A 4.9-magnitude earthquake was recorded near the same spot before North Korea confirmed its last nuclear test in 2013.
It seems highly likely that North Korea conducted some kind of nuclear test. The U.S. Geological Survey measured Wednesday morning's seismic activity, which took place northeast of Sungjibaegam, at a magnitude of 5.1, and South Korean experts said it appeared the quake was caused by a man-made explosion. A 4.9-magnitude earthquake was recorded near the same spot before North Korea confirmed its last nuclear test in 2013.
Still, the South Korean defense ministry said it can't confirm what kind of event occurred, and a senior U.S. administration official told CNN that it may take days to obtain scientific data that can determine whether the test was successful.
Still, the South Korean defense ministry said it can't confirm what kind of event occurred, and a senior U.S. administration official told CNN that it may take days to obtain scientific data that can determine whether the test was successful.
Why would North Korea conduct a test now?The Communist nation is believed to have an arsenal of crude nuclear weapons, and in September it it issued another one of its routine threats, saying, "If the U.S. and other hostile forces persistently seek their reckless hostile policy towards the DPRK and behave mischievously, the DPRK is fully ready to cope with them with nuclear weapons at any time." However, Chang Yong Seok, a researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, tellsBloomberg Business that another nuclear test would be "totally unexpcected" at this time. "It's probably an effort to enhance the technical nuclear capabilities, but it makes murky any prospect of Kim Jong Un’s visit to China this year if it is indeed a nuclear test," he said.
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