North Korea's 'biggest' nuclear test sparks global outrage

[DFighter]

World leaders have reacted with anger after North Korea carried out its fifth and reportedly biggest nuclear test.

The South accused the North's leader Kim Jong-un of "maniacal recklessness".

China "firmly opposed" the test, Japan "protested adamantly" and the US warned of "serious consequences" including "new sanctions". The UN Security Council will meet later behind closed doors to discuss the issue.

Such nuclear tests are banned by the UN but this is Pyongyang's second in 2016.

Kim Jong-un's rhetoric has also become increasingly aggressive, analysts say.

The isolated communist nation has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since its first test in 2006. Talks involving world and regional powers have failed to rein in the North's nuclear programme.

In its statement announcing the underground test, North Korea expressed anger at the "racket of threat and sanctions... kicked up by the US-led hostile forces" to deny a "sovereign state's exercise of the right to self-defence".

The test came on the country's National Day, which celebrates the founding of the current regime and which is often used as a show of military strength

Technically, the North said the test was aimed at further developing the miniaturisation of nuclear warheads so they could be mounted on ballistic missiles.

In its statement the North said it could now produce "at will, and as many as it wants, a variety of smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear warheads of higher strike power".

In recent months, the North has conducted a series of ballistic missile launches and has in the past often stated its aim of hitting US targets.

The North has previously made claims on "miniaturised" nuclear warheads but they have never been independently confirmed.

What now? Analysis by Steve Evans, BBC News, Seoul

What North Korea's opponents can actually do is problematic.

After the fourth test in January, China agreed to impose tougher UN sanctions. Further and even tougher sanctions are still possible, like blocking the export of fuel oil to North Korea.

That would be a drastic step which might halt the economy and cause serious suffering to ordinary people.

China's bottom line is that it does not want the collapse of the regime in Pyongyang if that leads to a chaotic power vacuum, possibly filled by the US and its allies.

North Korea has also been angered by a US and South Korean plan to install an anti-missile defence system in the South and by the allies' massive annual joint military exercises, which are still taking place.

The North's recent actions have sorely tested its only ally, China.

It condemned January's test and repeated that on Friday after the latest.

China's foreign ministry said it would lodge a diplomatic protest and urged North Korea to avoid further action that would worsen the situation.

Reaction from elsewhere was more harsh:

United States - President Barack Obama condemned the test saying he had agreed with South Korea and Japan to work with the UN Security Council "to vigorously implement existing measures imposed in previous resolutions, and to take additional significant steps, including new sanctions"

Japan - North Korea is an "outlaw nation in the neighbourhood"

South Korea - "Such provocation will further accelerate its path to self-destruction"

Russia - "We insist that the North Korean side stop its dangerous escapades and unconditionally implement all resolutions of the United Nations Security Council"

The International Atomic Energy Agency - a "deeply troubling and regrettable act" that is "in complete disregard of the repeated demands of the international community"

The latest test was announced on state TV hours after a 5.3 magnitude tremor was detected near the Punggye-ri underground nuclear site.

Estimates of the explosive yield of the latest blast have varied. South Korea's military said it was about 10 kilotonnes, enough to make it the North's "strongest nuclear test ever". Other experts say initial indications suggest 20 kilotonnes or more.

The bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield of about 15 kilotonnes.

video + Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37317782

[Raskin]

Too bad North Korean people brainwashed..the people need to overthrow this little pig out of power. .no one wants to have war with those dummies..they should join the world and make products and have a life...they think is a deterrent ..let them send one our way or one of our Allies..we' ll toast them

[DFighter]

I guess the big issue here is : acting before its to late or acting when its to late  either way will come with a big price 

[Aniky]

And not a single f*** was given by Kim yet again, haha gotta laugh at this shit yet noone wont do anything about it.

[SinfulRaevyn]

Sadly.. no one will do anything because of China... If China stopped supporting N.K. then it would be no issue... but China backs N.K. for political and economical reasons atm...

 

China is the greatest barrier and hopefully they will see that something needs to be done sooner than later.. :/

[DFighter]

And not a single f*** was given by Kim yet again, haha gotta laugh at this shit yet noone wont do anything about it.

 

Sadly.. no one will do anything because of China... If China stopped supporting N.K. then it would be no issue... but China backs N.K. for political and economical reasons atm...

 

China is the greatest barrier and hopefully they will see that something needs to be done sooner than later.. :/

indeed aniky again some moron simply challenge the west and get away with it same for russia with crimea and mh17

 

sinful in the latest n korean rocket test also china is condemming n korea and are not backing them up I guess the same goes for this test

 

another threat for nato and allies

 

russia n korea IS taliban so many threats yet so little action I guess like always they start to get awake and act once it is to late

[-=HipKat=-]

I spent time on Korea in the mid 80's when Kim's nutcase grandfather was President. It's funny, he's worried about defending North Korea but not one country wants to attack N. Korea. THere's nothing there. It's terrible, mountainous rocky land. They have no technology. No wealth. It's not even very strategic. It's waste of a country and it's people are slaves. THAT'S the sad part.

 

If N. Korea ever launched an attack on the US, it would be the end of N. Korea

Edited September 10, 2016 by -=HipKat=-

[SinfulRaevyn]

indeed aniky again some moron simply challenge the west and get away with it same for russia with crimea and mh17

 

sinful in the latest n korean rocket test also china is condemming n korea and are not backing them up I guess the same goes for this test

 

another threat for nato and allies

 

russia n korea IS taliban so many threats yet so little action I guess like always they start to get awake and act once it is to late

 

 

Condemning is not the same as not backing them up ... They (China and NK) do have a treaty... that if someone attacks one of them, the other will join their defense.. With more recent developments in the last few years, that treaty is probably crumbling... But in the past, going to war or invading N.K was not particularly an ideal thing...  Yes, China condemns them. They're starting to distance themselves from the insanity.. but they're still not actively solving the problem. >.< They think that talk will make the problem go away, but Kim is too paranoid to just stop what he's doing. Eventually I think if things keep going this way, maybe China will finally step in... but it's doubtful. They don't want to get actively involved outside of sanctions or putting pressure on N.K.. With US and China's relationship already a bit rocky, it's not like they will team up to stop NK from developing things further.

 

I don't think NK would be so stupid as to start an active physical war.. they know how fast their country would disappear... And while they should be stopped in development of nuclear arms,  I do think that just outright invading as a prevention method would be a bad idea. Last thing we need is another wasted war with more senseless casualties. China just needs to cut them off at the head (supplies, food, etc) and let the nation burn itself out. The last part is drunken wishful thinking

[L3ftY.]

He's just a little man with big toys and a bigger ego...

 

They want to step on South Korea, and show the US they aren't pushover.

 

I heard they just banned sarcasm. Seriously. You will be punished if you are caught being sarcastic. That's where I want to go for my next vacation..