South Korea’s Response To A Threat From The North Wouldn’t Be Pretty

North Korea is ready to conduct another nuclear test at any time, South Korea’s defence ministry said on Monday, just days after Pyongyang sparked worldwide condemnation with its fifth and most powerful test.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said Monday that South Korea and USA intelligence authorities believe North Korea has the ability to detonate another atomic device anytime at the Punggye-ri test site, where the five previous atomic explosions took place.

North Korea has been hit by five sets of United Nations sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006, but has insisted it will continue its testing program, come what may.

The South Korean defense ministry has also presented the “Korea Massive Punishment & Retaliation” to the national assembly, “aimed at wiping a certain section of Pyongyang completely off the map”, Yonhap quoted a military source as saying.

North Korea has reportedly completed preparations for another nuclear test.

“The United States condemns North Korea’s September 9 nuclear test in the strongest possible terms as a grave threat to regional security and to global peace and stability”, he said.

“(President Barack) Obama is trying hard to deny the DPRK’s (North Korea’s) strategic position as a legitimate nuclear weapons state but it is as foolish an act as trying to eclipse the sun with a palm”.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun refused to say what evidence pointed to another possible North Korea test.

A USA special envoy immediately met with Japanese officials, and later announced that they might launch unilateral sanctions against the DPRK.

After a closed-door meeting on the matter, the United Nations Security Council on Friday issued a press statement, saying “a clear threat to worldwide peace and security continues to exist” with the DPRK’s latest test.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday called for a “creative” response. The United States said it would do what is necessary to defend its Asian allies. “Washington has been refusing to sign a peace treaty with Pyongyang”.