WASHINGTON: The United States warned on Sunday (Sep 3) it could launch a « massive military response » to threats from North Korea following Pyongyang’s provocative detonation of what it claimed was a miniaturised hydrogen bomb. The comments from Defence Secretary Jim Mattis came after…
WASHINGTON: The United States warned on Sunday (Sep 3) it could launch a « massive military response » to threats from North Korea following Pyongyang’s provocative detonation of what it claimed was a miniaturised hydrogen bomb.
The comments from Defence Secretary Jim Mattis came after President Donald Trump called a meeting of his national security advisers to discuss an unexpectedly powerful nuclear test said to exceed in magnitude the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
Mattis told reporters: « Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies will be met with a massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming.
« We are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea. But as I said, we have many options to do so, » he added.
Trump had earlier denounced the test, tweeting that the time for « appeasement » was over and threatening drastic economic sanctions, including « stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea. »
US monitors measured a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake near the North’s main testing site, with an aftershock possibly caused by the collapse of a tunnel at the site.
SEOUL REACTS
The North hailed its test of what it described as a hydrogen bomb designed for a long-range missile as « a perfect success. »
Pyongyang residents celebrated as a jubilant television newsreader hailed the « unprecedentedly large » blast; she said it had moved the country closer to « the final goal of completing the state nuclear force. »
Neighbouring South Korea reacted by conducting a live-fire exercise simulating an attack on the North’s nuclear site, state news agency Yonhap reported, hitting « designated targets in the East Sea » with missiles and F-15K fighter jets.
The South’s military said the range to the simulated targets were equivalent to the North’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site in its northeastern province.
The exercise came after South Korean President Moon Jae-In, once an advocate of dialogue with the North, called for the « strongest punishment, » joining a chorus of international condemnation of Pyongyang’s sixth nuclear test including from China.
