Kim Jong Un has inspected the loading of a hydrogen bomb into a new intercontinental ballistic missile, North Korean state media claims.
North Korea on Sunday confirmed that it has conducted its sixth underground nuclear test — the detonation of a hydrogen bomb of “unprecedented power” designed to be transported by an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The latest brash move threatens to heighten an already tense situation on the Korean Peninsula and raises new questions about how the Trump administration will respond to Pyongyang’s latest provocation.
In just over a week, North Korea has test launched at least four ballistic missiles — including one that flew over Japan, causing serious alarm on the island — and boasted about creating a warhead that could, in theory, be used against the United States.
North Korean officials released a statement a few hours after the launch confirming that they had successfully completed testing of major portions of their ideal nuclear system — a missile that, in theory, could reach the United States.
“Today’s event was meaningful, for we’ ve reached our goal of completion of national nuclear power, » said an announcement read on North Korean state television.
The statement said the test marked a « significant occasion in attaining the final goal of completing the state nuclear force. »
In a Sunday morning tweet, President Trump called North Korea a “rogue nation” and a threat to the United States.
“North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test, ” said the tweet. “Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States.”
Tremors from the blasts could be felt in Yanji, a Chinese city of 650,000 on the North Korean border, according to China’s official New China News Agency. The agency tweeted a short video of a crystal chandelier, its hanging crystals swinging.
China’s online social networks lit up with news of the tests; a post by China’s earthquake-monitoring authorities announcing the seismic activity garnered nearly 23,000 « likes » and 17,000 comments.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs expressed “resolute opposition” and “intense condemnation” to the latest test.
“Realizing a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and safeguarding systems of nuclear nonproliferation and peace and stability in [China’s] northeast is the firm position of the Chinese side, and the common will of the international community, ” the ministry said in a statement.
Others in China expressed concern about possible radiation from the powerful blast.
« What I really care about is the safety of the northeastern provinces, » posted Hu Xijin, editor in chief of the Global Times, a state-run tabloid. « I believe that the country’s emergency response authorities have already moved on this. If there was indeed a nuclear test, I’m most concerned by whether there was a radiation leak, and I believe the government feels the same. »
U. S. and South Korean officials say the detonation caused an unnatural seismic tremor detected by sensors, a tell-tale sign of a nuclear test. Initially, U. S. and Korean officials believed the blast to have occurred in a village in northeastern North Korea known as Punggye-ri — a site closely watched by international nuclear experts.
North Korean state television later confirmed the test occurred at Punggye-ri. The country’s five previous tests, including two last year, also occurred there.
The magnitude of the nuclear test, North Korea’s first since last September, was estimated at 5.6, according to South Korean officials. Other reports put the magnitude at 6.3. The seismic wave occurred about 12: 30 p.
