Japan confirms North Korea carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test yet
UPDATE: Sept. 9, 2016, 2:17 p.m. SGT Updated with Japan's statement.
Japan has confirmed that North Korea carried out nuclear tests on Friday morning, which triggered 5.3 magnitude tremors at a test site in North Korea.
South Korea and international monitoring agencies reported Friday an earthquake near North Korea's northeastern nuclear test site, a strong indication that Pyongyang had detonated its fifth atomic test explosion.
SEE ALSO:360-degree video tour of North Korea gets you inside its isolated capitalJapan's top government spokesperson, Yoshihide Suga, was quoted by Reuterssaying: "Taking into consideration the irregularity of the tremors, and the information we have gathered, we have come to the conclusion that North Korea did indeed carry out a nuclear test."
He added: "This is of course something we cannot tolerate as a country, and we immediately expressed our strongest denunciation and protest through embassy channels in Beijing."
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the detonation was one of North Korea's "strongest ever", at a yield of 10 kilotons.
Earlier in the morning, European and U.S. monitoring services also detected similar seismic activity, with the U.S. Geological Survey calling it an "explosion" on its website.
Any test will lead to a strong push for new, tougher sanctions at the United Nations.
North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test earlier this year, part of its push for a nuclear-armed missile that could one day reach the U.S. mainland.
A second nuclear test this year would be a defiant response to Western pressure on Pyongyang to halt its nuclear ambitions. The country has previously conducted tests every three to four years.
Any test will lead to a strong push for new, tougher sanctions at the United Nations and further worsen already abysmal relations between Pyongyang and its neighbors. North Korean nuclear tests worry outside governments because they are seen as moving North Korea's scientists and engineers that much closer to their goal of an arsenal of nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.
Tweet may have been deleted
After several failures, North Korea has since successfully launched long-range rockets.
North Korea is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs and has spent decades trying to perfect a multistage, long-range missile to eventually carry smaller versions of those bombs. After several failures, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012, and has since launched another such successful launch.
Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology. The U.N. calls the North's long-range rocket launches banned tests of ballistic missile technology.
Some analysts say the North hasn't likely achieved the technology needed to manufacture a miniaturized nuclear warhead that could fit on a long-range missile capable of hitting the U.S. But there is a growing debate on just how far the North has advanced in its secretive nuclear and missile programs.
Additional reporting by Mashable.
(责任编辑:关于我们)
- ·Where to pre
- ·Rudy Giuliani says he’s “more of a Jew” than George Soros.
- ·Here are Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren ripping each other apart
- ·How to change Siri's voice in iOS 14.5
- ·I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the shower — does the screen work when wet as claimed?
- ·Minimum two
- ·US players 'angry, exhausted’, says Rapinoe
- ·Pompeo to visit South Korea after Trump
- ·古物:回望时间的印记
- ·Instagram adds Amber Alert notifications directly to the app
- ·10 Big Misconceptions About Computer Hardware
- ·How to listen to audiobooks: Free apps vs. paid subscriptions
- ·综合施策 精准发力 推动全面从严治党向纵深发展
- ·Real take control with Shakhtar win
- ·Best smartphone deal: Google Pixel 8a on sale for $449 at Amazon
- ·防疫教学两手抓 生活学习两不误
- ·综合施策 精准发力 推动全面从严治党向纵深发展
- ·Would you rather have Donald Trump as your president or as your father?
- ·The Weird, Wonderful World of Water Towers
- ·How to change Siri's voice in iOS 14.5