The alleged hydrogen bomb test by North Korea has set tongues wagging. It has drawn condemnation on one side and skepticism on the other.
Doubt engulfs North Korea hydrogen bomb test
Reports from the North Korean media indicates that the “successful” test brought jubilation in Pyongyang.
North Korea’s state TV described it as a successful move which propelled the country to the rank of an advanced nuclear state.
But some experts have expressed doubts claiming the device used was not as complicated as Pyongyang claims.
“It is too early to judge from the earthquake magnitude, however it is hard to believe this is a real hydrogen bomb given the scale. But we can possibly say that it is a boosted fission bomb at the most,” Yang UK, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defence and security Forum said.
Joe Cirincione a nuclear expert added,” I doubt they exploded a real hydrogen bomb. More likely a“boosted” weapon with tritium added to increase the yield of a fission bomb.”
The UN Security Council cannot take this anymore,” this act is profoundly destabilising for security and seriously undermines international non proliferation norms. I condemn it unequivocally,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said in a statement.
The UN Chief added that the body is monitoring and assessing developments in close co-ordination with concerned international organisations.
The White House considers North Korea’s move as mere propaganda, “we are obviously going to continue to look at this by monitoring the situation, assessing the available data and evidence. But the initial analysis is not consistent with claims that the regime has made a successful hydrogen bomb test,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said during a press briefing.
South Korea has condemned the alleged hydrogen bomb test in strong terms,” not only serious provocation of our national security, but also an act that threatens our lives and future. It’s also a direct challenge to world peace and stability.”