In the night of Friday, September 9, North Korea conducted another nuclear test. The plan of the ruling workers ‘ party of Korea in building up strategic nuclear forces, North Korean scientists and technicians have conducted a test explosion of a newly constructed nuclear warheads, according to the Central Telegraph Agency of Korea (KCNA). Characteristics of the explosion in practice, consistent with theoretical calculations, the leakage of radioactive materials has not happened, says the Agency.
“The test finally confirmed the specific features of a nuclear warhead, which was standardized for use on ballistic missiles “And” strategic forces of the DPRK,” KCNA says. This standardization continues the Agency, allows the country to produce an unlimited number of small, lightweight nuclear warheads with enhanced fighting qualities.
The primary objective of such missiles, says KCNA, is defensive: namely, “to prevent provocation of the enemy forces”. The atomic bomb is “a countermeasure against blackmail, threats and sanctions against the DPRK pursued by hostile countries, under the leadership of the United States”.
Stronger Than Hiroshima
Even before official confirmation of Pyongyang’s meteorologists in Western countries have reported tremors, like an earthquake, near nuclear test site in the northeast of the DPRK, where he took a test warhead. According to the meteorological service of the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Geological survey (USGS), about 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 GMT) was recorded impulse with magnitude of 5.3 with an epicenter near the range.
This is the fifth in North Korea testing nuclear warheads and the second with the beginning of the year. The first test was in October 2006, when Western seismologists recorded the impulse of a magnitude of 4.2. Subsequently, tests were carried out in may 2009, January 2013 and January 2016.
Today’s trials are the strongest in magnitude, and hence the power of the explosion, said the Agency Reuters expert at the University of California Middlebury Jeffrey Lewis. He estimated that the bomb was at least 20-30 kilotons. For comparison, the explosive power of American bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 15 and 21 kiloton respectively.
Now armed DPRK is two types of ballistic short-range missiles (BRMD) of the class “Hwaseong”. This is based on the Soviet R-17 “Hwaseong-5” and the newer “Hwaseong-6”. Effective their range is up to 320 km and 500 km, respectively.
Nuclear test site, North Korea is just 200 km from the Russian border and 300 km from Vladivostok. While the radiation situation in the Russian far East is normal, said to “Interfax” the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova. “Today’s not a concern. Background radiation in Primorye is also does not exceed the average annual level, that is, those standards that we orientirueshsya”, — said Popov.
Timed tests
Sudden nuclear test has drawn sharp criticism from the international community. According to The Wall Street Journal, the tests were after just a few hours after the Asian tour the US President Barack Obama. The American leader for the week called for several international summits where, in particular, has been discussed and criticized the DPRK’s nuclear programme. Today’s trials, the newspaper said, can be timed to the 68th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK.
Literally from the aircraft, Obama said Pyongyang of “serious consequences” after these trials and has held talks by phone with the leaders of Japan and South Korea. After accusations from North Korea, U.S. Department of defense is itself called the tests “a serious provocation” that violates UN resolutions and undermining stability in the region.
The UN security Council tonight will hold an emergency meeting on the Korean issue, reports the Japanese Agency Kyodo. The request for the convocation of the Council, according to sources, has sent a delegation of the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea. A few days ago, the security Council has already condemned the recent launch of DPRK’s ballistic missiles — the 12th in the last six months, since the expansion of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.
With sharp condemnation of the nuclear tests were not only Western leaders, but the government of the PRC, which is considered the main diplomatic patron to Pyongyang’s. The Chinese foreign Ministry said, writes the Associated Press that will Express their protest directly to the DPRK Ambassador called the test “the last action to destabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula.”
The Russian foreign Ministry has linked the tests with the problem of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. “We insist that North Korea stop its dangerous adventure, strictly complied with all provisions of the UN security Council has completely abandoned nuclear missile programs and returned to the Treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons,” — noted in Moscow. Negative consequences of such “contempt for international law” will be felt first and foremost the Pyongyang.
