‘Artificial
earthquake’ strikes North Korea near known nuclear test site
"Today, at around 12:36pm, we detected an artificial earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitude... we are analyzing whether a nuclear test was conducted," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to Yonhap.
The USGS reported the tremor as a 6.3 magnitude, while China's earthquake administration also said it detected a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in northeastern North Korea, calling it a "suspected explosion," Reuters reported.
The Pentagon and the JCS have urgently called for a crisis countermeasure, assuming that North Korea is most likely to have conducted a sixth nuclear test, the report added.
Seoul's presidential office has already accused its neighbor of conducting a nuclear test while president Moon Jae-in has convened a National Security Council meeting.
Dutchsinse picked this up in one of his broadcasts
https://www.rt.com/news/401859-north-korea-earthquake-nuclear/
An earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude has struck North Korea near a known nuclear test site, Punggye-ri, suggesting that Pyongyang may have conducted its sixth nuclear test, Yonhap reports.
An allegedly artificial quake was detected at 12:36pm in North Hamgyeong Province, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Yonhap reports."Today, at around 12:36pm, we detected an artificial earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitude... we are analyzing whether a nuclear test was conducted," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to Yonhap.
The USGS reported the tremor as a 6.3 magnitude, while China's earthquake administration also said it detected a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in northeastern North Korea, calling it a "suspected explosion," Reuters reported.
The Pentagon and the JCS have urgently called for a crisis countermeasure, assuming that North Korea is most likely to have conducted a sixth nuclear test, the report added.
Seoul's presidential office has already accused its neighbor of conducting a nuclear test while president Moon Jae-in has convened a National Security Council meeting.
'Kim Jong-un inspected the new hydrogen bomb during his visit to the nuclear facility' on.rt.com/8m2i pic.twitter.com/cHHCm2JI1x
North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Institute has created 'more developed nuke' to add to arsenal - N. Korean state mediaon.rt.com/8m2i pic.twitter.com/BQE3n96vMm
Earlier
in the day, North Korea's official news agency (KCNA) reported that
the Nuclear Weapons Institute has created a“more
developed nuke,” that
can be fitted on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The
new alleged hydrogen bomb, the report said, not only
features “enormous
destructive power” but
can also be used to detonate a “super
powerful” electromagnetic
pulse.
South
Korea’s National Intelligence Service warned Monday that its
neighbor might be preparing its sixth nuclear weapon test from a
nuclear test site in Punggye-ri. North Korea has already conducted
five nuclear tests – in 2006, 2009, 2013 and in January and
September 2016. During the last test, the North claimed it had
successfully detonated a small nuclear warhead.
DETAILS
TO FOLLOW
From earlier in the day
North
Korea says it has developed ‘advanced hydrogen bomb’ that can be
fitted on ICBM
North
Korea has developed a new, more advanced hydrogen nuke that is small
enough to be fitted on a new intercontinental ballistic missile,
state media KCNA has claimed.
According
to the KCNA report, North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Institute has
created a “more developed nuke,” bringing about a “signal turn”
in the country’s nuclear arsenal. Kim Jong-un, the country’s
leader, inspected the new weapon during his visit to the nuclear
facility.
Scientists
“further upgraded its technical performance at a higher
ultra-modern level on the basis of precious successes made in the
first H-bomb test,” KCNA said, boasting about the progress of the
domestic weapons program.
“The
Nuclear Weapons Research Institute has recently achieved a higher
level of research and production of nuclear weapons,” in accordance
with the country’s strategic plan of nuclear weaponization, KCNA
said.
“Our
hydrogen fuel, which can be arbitrarily adjusted from tens of to
hundreds of kilotons depending on the target of the nuclear strike,
not only exerts enormous destructive power,” but can also explode
at a high altitude, producing a “super powerful EMP
[electromagnetic pulse] against a vast region,” it said.
“It
is a multifunctional thermonuclear combat unit,” KCNA said, adding
that all of its elements are “100% localized and all processes
necessary for the production of nuclear weapons are integrated.”
The
US considers a potential EMP attack a real threat to the nation,
capable of inflicting “catastrophic” damage.
“The
electromagnetic fields produced by weapons designed and deployed with
the intent to produce EMP have a high likelihood of damaging
electrical power systems, electronics, and information systems upon
which American society depends. Their effects on dependent systems
and infrastructures could be sufficient to qualify as catastrophic to
the Nation,” the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United
States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack, said in their report.
An
electromagnetic pulse attack on US soil could inflict major damage to
vital electronic systems, according to a 2008 report from the
Heritage Foundation.
“First,
the electromagnetic shock disrupts electronics, such as sensors,
communications systems, protective systems, computers, and other
similar devices. The second component has a slightly smaller range
and is similar in effect to lightning... [and can cause] potential
for damage to critical infrastructure. The final component... is a
pulse that flows through electricity transmission lines-damaging
distribution centers and fusing power lines,” the Heritage
Foundation explained.
For
years now, the North has been relentlessly pursuing a program to
develop a nuclear weapon small enough to be mounted on an
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In January 2016, Pyongyang
claimed it had successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb.
In
July, North Korea, claimed it tested two ICBMs which could
potentially strike continental US. However, Russian Defense Ministry
data classed both missiles as Intermediate-Range Nuclear Missiles,
while the rhetoric between US and North Korea has intensified.
On
August 29, tensions on the Korean peninsula reached epic proportions
after North Korea conducted its 14th missile test this year in
response to the joint US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills
which concluded this week. Pyongyang’s intermediate range ballistic
missile flew over Northern Japan, sparking worldwide criticism and a
statement of condemnation by the UN Security Council.
US
President Donald Trump said “all options are on the table”
regarding North Korea, later adding that “talking is not the
answer.”
Amid
the warmongering, Russia and China continue to insist that a military
solution to the conflict is not an option. On Friday, Russian
President Vladimir Putin warned that further escalations could lead
to an armed regional conflict.
“The
situation on the Korean Peninsula, where tensions have grown
recently, is balancing on the brink of a large-scale conflict. Russia
believes that the policy of putting pressure on Pyongyang to stop its
nuclear missile program is misguided and futile,” Putin said
Friday.
Dutchsinse picked this up in one of his broadcasts
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