North Korea has confirmed that it successfully tested a miniaturized nuclear weapon at an underground test site overnight, saying the test was conducted safely and is a response to recent US hostility.
An earthquake was detected in the region with a 4.9 magnitude at the time, which was the first indication that a test may have been conducted. South Korean officials say the earthquake means the explosion was likely of a 6-7 kiloton device, about half of the yield of the first US atomic weapons and far less than the multi-megaton devices in the US and Russian arsenals today.
North Korea promised such a test last month after the UN Security Council approved more sanctions against them for attempting to put a satellite into orbit. The US called the launch a “highly provocative act” and threatened retaliation.
The UN Security Council is to hold an emergency meeting on the test at 9 AM eastern time Tuesday morning, with indications that yet more sanctions against North Korea will be the primary subject. Since isolation of the tiny nation is already near absolute, it is unclear how much more the UN can even theoretically do to them.
The more important reaction will come from neighboring China, whose state media had indicated that they might revoke aid from North Korea if they followed through on the promised test. The loss of Chinese aid would be a huge blow to the nation, as this is one of their last links to the outside world.
I love these "emergency meetings" by the security council. Really makes the situation sound dire, but the only emergency will be when the North Korean government collapses (the clear aim of U.S. policy toward the country).
As a guy who lives in Seoul I can tell you the vast majority of the public here is neither paying attention to, nor worried about, these tests. Another example of exaggerating catastrophe for the promotion of government aims. The South Korean and American govts are masters of this craft.
Why can the US put satellites into orbit and the UN doesn't sanction them? Why can the US and its lackeys test all kinds of nuclear devices and the UN is mute? The hypocrisy here reaches high heaven. I think North Korea needed to carry out this test to warn others so they don't get ideas à la Syrie.
THIS is the most pressing immediate danger to America…not Iran, who all the experts agree (which does not include anyone in Congress or rightwing think tanks or Israel) are not building a nuclear weapon. The DPRK with it's juvenile leader is the real threat. The warmongers have been railing about "stateless entities" with nuclear weapons…well, here's a full-fledged State, complete with UN membership and recognition – and nuclear weapons publishing cartoons depicting that nefarious mushroom cloud over NYC Cheney and Rice were so worried about. You would think that when China starts to remonstrate against Kim Jong-un's behavior the rest of the world should take heed and put their energies in the right place – not pursuing phantoms at the whims of Bibi.
THIS is the most pressing immediate danger to America…not Iran, who all the experts agree are not building a nuclear weapon (which does not include anyone in Congress or rightwing think tanks or Israel.) The DPRK with it's juvenile leader is the real threat. The warmongers have been railing about "stateless entities" with nuclear weapons…well, here's a full-fledged State, complete with UN membership and recognition – and nuclear weapons publishing cartoons depicting that nefarious mushroom cloud over NYC Cheney and Rice were so worried about. You would think that when China starts to remonstrate against Kim Jong-un's behavior the rest of the world should take heed and put their energies in the right place – not pursuing phantoms at the whims of Bibi.
There is very little to worry about here, don't be swept up by the fear mongering. Certainly there is no threat to America. The narrative of fear mongering applies here as well as with Iran (only in a different capacity, as yes, Iran is not seeking nukes). It was American foreign policy that drove North Korea to develop nukes, particularly the Bush era is to blame for this, and there is no evidence to suggest the US is actually worried about North Korea (or they would have dealt with them constructively by now). Rather, they enjoy having the North Korean straw man as an excuse for American presence in the region and as impetus for Japanese rearmament. The problem is that the North Korean regime can't last forever (though it has defied predictions of collapse for over two decades) and, though it appears to have been American foreign policy to induce the collapse of the regime, when it does fall there will be serious stability issues that could threaten economy and security region-wide. The U.S. needs to constructively engage the regime but it has refused to so with some few intermissions since the Bush administration.
It isn’t easy running a tyrannical dictatorship these days. That's why North Korea wants distracts its people from the real problems occurring within their own country. A way to achieve such result is to mobilize public opinion against an enemy, but you need to create an enemy when you don’t have any. It may explain the aggressiveness of North Korea and it makes their nuclear program a dangerous threat.
The Global Bully kick sand in the face of a 7 stone weakling once too often, who then starts going weight training. The Global Bully doesn't take the hint.
geez, my day has been just fine. I actually don't feel any more threatened today than I did yesterday. The only people who feel threatened are the chickenhawks in DC, that is, they feel threatened that they cannot control the whole world. North Korea has a right to whatever technology is available in order to protect their border integrity. This doesn't mean that I like the NK Govt; I think they are a horrendous dictatorship but it is none of my business.
geez, my day has been just fine. I actually don't feel any more threatened today than I did yesterday. The only people who feel threatened are the chickenhawks in DC, that is, they feel threatened that they cannot control the whole world. North Korea has a right to whatever technology is available in order to protect their border integrity. This doesn't mean that I like the NK Govt; I think they are a horrendous dictatorship but it is none of my business.
The US "has to" put "pressure" on other countries. You know, : puff up, pound the chest, growl. Remember : ONLY USRAEL is allowed to do dastardly things and get away with it.
Well, the U.S. of A. could get those champions of Islam, the Saudis and Qataris, to invade North Korea.
Why don`t they invade N. Korea ?
If North Korea is such a threat, why is it even a question with Our Brave Leaders on what to do about it? We have the ability and the resources to 'bomb them into the Stone Age' (as many wags love to say) so why not target their nuclear facilities and JUST DO IT. Quit the histrionics and hand-wringing and get some B-52's in the air and take care of some business.
We had absolutely no problem doing this in the Middle East, to nations which never posed a threat to the US- why is it so difficult to pull the trigger on North Korea, a nation KNOWN to have nuclear weapons and branded as a clear threat to the US itself?
(Disclaimer- I am in no way pro-war, but in this I only illustrate the monumental hypocrisy of the US in dealing with nations. If you say over and over a nation is a threat- and it's known to have nuclear weapons- why on G-d's green earth don't you DO something about it?)