NORTH Korea says it has successfully carried out its fifth test of a nuclear device overnight sparking furious reactions fromworld leaders.
Neighbouring South Korea stated this morning it believes this is the North’s biggest nuke test to date – reportedly twice the size of that which levelled Hiroshima
“We successfully conducted a nuclear explosion test to determine the power of [the] nuclear warhead,” a female anchor announced on state television.
“We will continue to strengthen our nuclear capabilities to protect our sovereignty. We have now standardised and minimised nuclear warheads … We can now produce small nuclear warheads any time we desire.”
South Korean President Park Geun-hye called it an act of “self-destruction” which showed the “maniacal recklessness” of leader Kim Jong-un.
Residents in North and South Korea have had predictably different reactions to the test.
Rim Jong Su, a 42-year-old Pyongyang resident, told the Associated Press he was happy with the test.
He said: “Now, I am full of confidence that if the enemies make any little provocations we will make a counter attack and we will surely win.”
Across the border, Jeong Jong-kook said that South Koreans are nervous about the North’s nuclear experiment.
“Nuclear weapons must be prohibited in order to pursue stability and peace in East Asia,” he said.
The test was first detected as a 5.3 magnitude artificial earthquake close to the North’s known nuclear test site.
Analysts fear it could be a step closer to having a useable nuclear weapon.
An analyst from the Californian-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies estimated the device had a 20 to 30 kilotonne yield, which would make it North Korea’s largest nuke test yet and up to twice the size of the 15 kilotonne blast which rocked Hiroshima.
Following the blast, China’s environment ministry are reported to have began emergency radiation monitoring along the country’s border regions in the north east.
Today is the country’s Foundation Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1948.
Similar events have been used in the past as an opportunity to show off their military strength.
The US Air Force is expected to start flying the WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft in the coming hours to take air samples and see if it can determine a nuclear event occurred.
Japan has sent four jets to test for radiation.
Satellite images had shown new activity at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in recent weeks, according to North Korea monitoring site 38North.
A small number of mining carts could be seen, as well as a new canopy which was designed to hide activity to the site, analysts said.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “These reports are of grave concern. The United Kingdom strongly condemns North Korea for conducting a further nuclear test, which is a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and a threat to regional peace and stability.
“Together with the Australian Foreign Minister I have spoken this morning to the Japanese Foreign Minister, and the UK will be consulting other international partners on a robust response.”
And US president Barack Obama warned North Korea it could face “serious consequences”.
“The President also consulted with President Park of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Abe of Japan in separate phone calls,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told ABC News.
“The President reiterated the unbreakable US commitment to the security of our allies in Asia and around the world.
“The President indicated he would continue to consult our allies and partners in the days ahead to ensure provocative actions from North Korea are met with serious consequences.”
