It is understood that the blast was more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima according to some estimates and drew widespread condemnation from various countries across the globe as well as its ally China.
The test’s estimated yield of 10 kilotons is reportedly higher than any of the North’s previous four controlled nuclear detonations, according to experts, suggesting that the regime is enhancing its nuclear capability to focus on recent signs of progress in its ballistic missile programme. Together, those advances could one day give North Korea a nuclear weapon compact enough to be mounted on a reliable long-range missile – a development that would pose a dramatically heightened threat to North Korea’s neighbours and the US. North Korea also conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, drawing condemnation and rounds of UN sanctions banning trade and financing activities that help its weapon programme.
It seems that its rival countries and United Nations have been powerless to contain North Korea’s nuclear programme despite the UN sanctions that were further tightened in March which further isolated the country. The test comes on North Korea’s national day, and six months after it claimed it had miniaturised nuclear warheads to fit on ballistic missiles is a clear violation of security council resolutions banning the North from developing nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. World leaders condemned the test, saying it was a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The Council met and “strongly condemned” the test as “a clear threat to international peace and security.”
US President Barack Obama warned N Korea that it will face “consequences to its unlawful and dangerous actions.” The latest development could trigger a war in the region as N. Korea considers S.Korea and the US as its main enemies.
