USA doubts North Korean H-bomb claims

Jubilant North Koreans celebrate the success of what Pyongyang says is the nation’s first test of a hydrogen bomb. The Hermit Kingdom has been conducting tests with nuclear weapons for the past 10 years, but global pressure and sanctions have not had any halting effect on their development program. But to build a credible nuclear threat, the North must explode new nuclear devices — including miniaturized ones — so its scientists can improve their designs and technology.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest suggested strongly on Wednesday that the North Korean regime was lying when it claimed to have successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb the day before.

Nevertheless, what North Korea calls its “H-bomb of justice” is a security threat concerning to the United Nations and the rest of the world powers.

Q: How would nuclear experts establish the validity of North Korea’s claim of testing a hydrogen bomb?

Seoul’s foreign ministry said earlier Thursday that South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se and his USA counterpart John Kerry had a phone conversation overnight to discuss countermeasures following North Korea’s nuclear test.

Hydrogen bombs are significantly more powerful than atomic bombs, which were used during World War II in attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As it called upon North Korea to refrain from such actions which adversely impact peace and stability in the region, the government said, “Our concerns about proliferation links between North-East Asia and our neighbourhood are well-known”.

Obama also reaffirmed the “unshakeable U.S. commitment” to the security of South Korea and Japan, according to the statements.

Japan would consider further sanctions against the DPRK.

Further work is being undertaken to confirm the type of device tested. “It doesn’t look like one;… one would have expected it to be greater if it was an H-bomb”.

But the North is already under layers of sanctions imposed following its past missile launches and three nuclear tests, and analysts have questioned what real impact fresh penalties will really have.