(Newswire.net — September 9, 2016) —Regardless of the fact that the UN has imposed sanctions on North Korea, nuclear weapons development in the country has not been ceased.
On Friday morning, Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea, carried out the fifth nuclear weapons test. It was the biggest nuclear test, and followed the tests in January for which the UN imposed sanctions on North Korea.
The blast is estimated to have had the explosive power of 10 kilotons, analysts have said, which makes this the most powerful nuclear detonation in Punggye-ri, the area of North Korea’s underground test site.
The experiment caused an earthquake of 5.3 magnitude on the Richter scale in the Korean peninsula
Tomomi Inada, Japan’s defence minister, said that the nuclear test represents a threat to Japan. She also said that they can’t deny the possibility that North Korea has the capability to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile. Inada added that the strength of the earthquake that followed the testing indicates that there is no doubt that this was not a hydrogen bomb, reports Reuters.
Japan also announced that Tokyo will consider the introduction of additional unilateral sanctions against North Korea for this test.
Japan has sent military aircrafts to check possible radiation after the test.
US President Barack Obama vowed today over a telephone conversation with the President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, that he will take all necessary measures of defense against North Korea, including a nuclear umbrella to ensure the protection of Seoul.
The South Korean President said, that during the telephone talks, the two leaders agreed to use all available means to boost pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear programs, including the adoption of a new resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations.
Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State, said he will work closely with Japan, China, Russia and South Korea to exert strong pressure on North Korea after the fifth and most powerful nuclear test. Russel added that it is a very serious provocation and a violation of international law and a threat to the entire region.
Russia has also expressed concern over the recent nuclear test and strongly condemned that act, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The test was conducted on the day Pyongyang celebrated the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on September 9th in 1948.