North Korea confirmed its nuclear explosion via state-run news agency KCNA
North Korea has carried out its third, most powerful nuclear device test in defiance of United Nations warnings and bringing condemnation from nations around the world and criticism from its ally China.
Nuclear test monitors in Vienna have said that the underground nuclear explosion had double to force of North Korea’s last nuclear bomb test in 2009 despite apparently using a smaller device. Whilst the previous nuclear device demonstrated in considered to have resulted in a magnitude 4.7 seismic event, the smaller size of this device could be a path for Pyonyang to build a warhead small enough to arm a missile.
Diplomats have said that the UN Security Council will meet at 14:00 GMT to discuss the test and its ramifications.
North Korea announced that they would be performing this test last month, continuing their current path of nuclear tests every three years since they first claimed to have tested “fully fledged nuclear power” in 2006, and in direct response to the increased sanctions imposed on the country after their December rocket launch.
Seismic activity with a shallow 4.9 magnitude earthquake recorded by the US Geological Survey at 02:57 GMT this morning followed several months of activity at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Pyonyang then confirmed the test three hours later in a statement on state-run KCNA news agency, which said:
“It was confirmed that the nuclear test, that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturised and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously, did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment”
The test received condemnation from around the world with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling it “deeply destabilising” and a “grave violation” of UN resolutions. North Korea’s sole international ally, China, also expressed “firm opposition” and urged Pyonyang not to take “any actions which might worsen the situation” and honour its commitment to denuclearisation.
