September 9, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. Korean time, as foreshadowed numerous forecasts of the South Korean and Western penyagolosa, more than half claimed that the fifth nuclear test of the DPRK to happen, it finally happened. This event occurred in the same place at the beginning of the year – at the nuclear test site near the village of Phung-ri County kilju-gun province’s Do, shaking the earth with the magnitude of 5.3 was recorded seismological service of a number of countries, and if you believe the media of Kazakhstan, tremors felt even the residents of the border areas of Primorsky territory of Russia.
Further data as usual for the first time vary. So, if according to the USGS the depth of focus of the push is zero, the seismological station in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 12 kilometers. As reported in the joint Committee of chiefs of staffs of armed forces of Kazakhstan, the power of the exploded charge could be 10 kilotons, while the charge capacity, which was blown up in January, was 6 kilotons, but the capacity of the fourth nuclear test was evaluated not only in 6, but in 20. Therefore, the argument that “the current explosion was the most powerful in the history of the North Korean nuclear test” in need of re-examination.
The northerners themselves have officially confirmed the fact of carrying out the test four hours later, declaring that it was a test of a new nuclear warhead for the evaluation of its power. Also said that during the tests was not recorded leak of radioactive substances. It cannot be excluded that due to successful standardization of nuclear warheads, the DPRK is free to produce various modifications of warheads, including miniaturized, and, in General, the nuclear potential of Pyongyang as never before.
The test may be timed to celebrate September 9, the 68th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean state. Or considered as a response to joint military exercises the US and the ROK, or the flow of the statements about the coming destruction of the DPRK. It is important otherwise. First, it is the second test for the year, while the average interval was three years. So there is something to blow up. Second, recently, Pyongyang has successfully tested a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, and positioned the test as the test itself. So, the military power of the DPRK potentially made the leap forward in the development of the scenarios of a military conflict it will have to consider.
Reaction to the “extraordinary nuclear fireworks expected. The President of the ROK Park Geun-Hye, interrupting his overseas tour, said that the latest provocation is a flagrant violation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council and warned that Seoul will seek to mobilize all possible means of pressure on Pyongyang and to apply more severe sanctions. Furthermore, the South Korean leader called U.S. President Barack Obama and within 15 minutes discussed with him the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The parties agreed to mobilize all available means of pressure on SK, including the adoption of more rigid resolution of the UN Security Council. Barack Obama has promised to fulfill all obligations of the United States to other countries, providing extended deterrence involving nuclear umbrella.
According to media outlets of Kazakhstan, members of the UN security Council agree that the time has come to start implementing the stringent response, which previously only warned, and expected tightening of anti-North Korean sanctions, which may include a ban on humanitarian assistance to Pyongyang.
However, the author has no absolute certainty that everything will happen exactly. On the one hand, informed the members of the standing Committee of the UN security Council demonstrated formal unity in condemning the DPRK and the inadmissibility of the acceptance of its nuclear status. On the other – tensions in Sino-American relations and the situation on the recent meetings of the security Council on North Korean subjects, where China insists criticism of any actions that increase regional tensions (including the question of THAAD), slightly increases the likelihood that unity can be broken or words of condemnation is not followed by real strong action. Third – you can remember how you looked and changed the position of Beijing during the crisis in the beginning of the year.
However, the results of the meeting will probably be devoted to our next material published soon.
