North Korea nuclear blast shows ‘uncanny resemblance’ to last test

“The most unsafe virus that could destroy the North Korean regime or the foundations, ideological theocratic foundations of the North Korean regime, is the truth about North Korea, truth about the outside world”, he said.

The Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority, which is strengthening its monitoring activities, and the Japan Chemical Analysis Center, which is analyzing dust samples collected by the country’s Air Self Defense Force, said “there was no particular change” in environmental radiation levels, a finding echoed by South Korean monitors.

The effects of a possible hydrogen bomb test in North Korea earlier this week were detected in Alaska.

There is nothing progressive about North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons. West says it is still unclear whether Tuesday’s explosion was a hydrogen bomb or not, and only time will tell.

The administration’s solution to the North Korea problem is to double down on its failed strategy of relying principally on the United Nations for concerted “international” action.

North Korea announced on Wednesday it had tested a hydrogen bomb for the first time, drawing widespread global condemnation but also skepticism and doubt. “We know that responding in this way is simply rising to the bait North Korea is presenting to us”.

“The two leaders agreed that the North should pay the appropriate price… and vowed to closely cooperate to get a strong resolution adopted at the UN Security Council”, it added.

China, a permanent member of the Security Council, argues dialogue is the only way to moderate its behavior and remains a major exporter to North Korea.

The North broadcasts were not clearly audible from the South and appeared meant to drown out those from the South, Yonhap said, citing a South Korean official.

The sound from the speakers is so loud that it can carry for 10 km (6 miles) into North Korea during the day and more than twice that distance at night, Yonhap reported. But, we have to be bigger than the North Koreans and I would urge South Korea and other like-minded countries in the region to exercise restraint.

A successful nuclear test would send a powerful message to Kim’s domestic audience and the ruling party.

Voice of America also reported that the US and South Korea had ordered their military forces on the Korean Peninsula on “high alert”.

North Korea fears such broadcasts even more than crippling economic sanctions, said Chun Yungwoo, a senior adviser for the Asian Institute, told CNN.

Leader of the Democratic minority, Nancy Pelosi of California, promised Thursday there will be strong bipartisan support for the legislation tabled by the top Republican and Democrat lawmakers on the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would target access to hard currency and other goods and step up inspections of North Korean cargo. A congressional source said it was expected as soon as Monday.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to the leaders of South Korea and Japan, who both joined the President in condemning the test. Obama reaffirmed the United States’ defense commitments to both of its regional allies.

The broadcasts are a low-tech response to Mr Kim’s sabre-rattling, compared with options like the tightening of sanctions on the isolated regime, South Korea developing its own missile defence system or potentially a beefing up of the USA military presence south of the border.