North Korea just tested another nuke

[truth will win out]

EOUL (Reuters) - Seismic activity has been detected in North Korea with an earthquake measuring 4.9 magnitude registered by the U.S. Geological Survey, in a move that South Korea said indicated that Pyongyang had carried out a third nuclear test.
The quake occurred at 11:57 a.m Korean time (0257 GMT) and South Korea's presidential office said that it was "likely" a nuclear test, according to the South's Yonhap news agency
North Korea is not prone to seismic activity.
The USGS said the epicenter of the quake, which was only one km deep, was close to the North's known nuclear test site.
The reclusive and isolated state, which is banned under United Nations Security Council resolutions from developing nuclear and missile technology, did not issue a statement and it was impossible to verify that it was a nuclear test.


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/seismic-activity-detected-north-korea-usgs-032529887.html

A United Nations Security Council diplomat said there has been a nuclear test in North Korea,

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-02-12/north-korea/


Let us hope love and sanity win out.

[shadowstalker]

"likely" is the key word

[truth will win out]

NEWS ADVISORY: Defense Ministry prepares to fly ASDF aircraft to survey radiation over Japan (13:11)
BREAKING NEWS: U.N. Security Council to hold emergency meeting at 11 p.m. NYC time: Yonhap (13:08)
NEWS ADVISORY: Japan holds national security meeting on possible N. Korea nuclear test (12:58)
BREAKING NEWS: N. Korea notified U.S., China of nuclear test plan a day earlier: Yonhap (12:54)
BREAKING NEWS: Japan sets up task force over possible N. Korea nuclear test: spokesman (12:43)

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/02/208751.html

[truth will win out]

N.korea says test used miniaturised nuclear device with greater explosive force - kcna

[Paranormal]

Aaaaarrrrggghhh! How many thousands of bombs were exploded in the 1950s-1970s? Let's not worry about the splinter in Noth Koreas's eye while we have a log in our own eye...

[KiwiElf]

North Korea defies world opinion with nuclear test
AFP Updated February 12, 2013, 9:55 pm

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/16121637/north-korea-defies-world-opinion-with-nuclear-test/

SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea on Tuesday staged its most powerful nuclear test yet, claiming a technological breakthrough with a "miniaturised" device in a striking act of defiance to global powers including its sole patron China.

The isolated state said its third underground test, conducted in the face of severe warnings from the UN Security Council, was a direct riposte to what it termed US "hostility".

North Korea's claim of miniaturisation will be of particular concern, suggesting it is a step closer to fitting a nuclear warhead onto a ballistic missile.

The confirmation from state news agency KCNA came nearly three hours after seismic monitors detected an unusual tremor at 0257 GMT in the area of the country's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, close to the Chinese border.

Analysts said the timing appeared to be an attention-grabbing calculation from a state well versed in provocative acts, coming just ahead of US President Barack Obama's State of the Union address at the start of his second term.

Obama denounced the test and called for a "swift" and "credible" international response, as the Security Council readied to meet. Condemnation came from others including Russia, while Japan saw a "grave threat" to its own security.

It was the North's first nuclear test since its new, youthful leader Kim Jong-Un took over from his father, Kim Jong-Il. Security analysts said it sent a bold message of intent following a successful long-range rocket launch in December.

"The launch and the test are empirical evidence that Kim and his regime have no intention of negotiating away the North's nuclear programme any time soon," said Paul Carroll, programme director at the US-based Ploughshares Fund.

North Korea's two previous tests in 2006 and 2009 triggered waves of UN sanctions, and the Security Council was expected to debate new measures when it meets on Tuesday morning in New York.

There was no immediate response from China, but a UN diplomat said Beijing had made its displeasure clear to Pyongyang.

"The Chinese gave the North Koreans a strong warning against carrying out a test as it became apparent that it was imminent," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, labelling the test "a big challenge to the Chinese".

On a technical level, along with the miniaturisation aspect, experts are hungry to know if North Korea has switched from plutonium to a new and self-sustaining nuclear weaponisation programme using uranium.

The KCNA statement did not specify what fissile material was used, but noted that the test's success had provided the North with a "diversified" nuclear deterrent.

The North has substantial deposits of uranium ore and it is much easier to secretly enrich uranium, which can be done in centrifuges rather than the nuclear reactor required for plutonium enrichment.

Tuesday's explosion had a yield of six to seven kilotons, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok told reporters, significantly more than the 2006 and 2009 tests, which both used plutonium.

The explosive yield compared with 15 kilotons in the world's first atomic bomb dropped by the United States on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945.

North Korea's first test yielded less than one kiloton and was widely seen as a dud. The second test yielded between two and six kilotons, according to Seoul.

The third test throws down a stark security and diplomatic challenge to Obama as well as to new Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Paik Hak-Soon, a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute in Seoul, said Kim Jong-Un was intent on triggering a crisis that would force the international community to negotiate on his terms.

"The UN is running out of options and probably knows new sanctions would only have a limited impact," Paik said.

"The only real option for curbing further provocation is starting a dialogue with the North, but that will be very difficult given the domestic political pressure on leaders in the US, South Korea and Japan," Paik said.

On top of uranium enrichment, a proven miniaturisation ability would take on added significance following December's rocket launch, which marked a major step forward in ballistic prowess, and provoked still-tighter UN sanctions.

At the UN Security Council, the United States and its allies will push hard for China to get tough with its erratic ally.
But China's leverage is limited, analysts say, by its fear of a North Korean collapse and the prospect of a reunified, US-allied Korea directly on its border.

[sdv]

Paik Hak-Soon, a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute in Seoul, said Kim Jong-Un was intent on triggering a crisis that would force the international community to negotiate on his terms.

Negotiate what? Yes, North Korea regards USA and the West as enemies (an enemy is always a useful propoganda tool). Yes, the USA and the West disapprove of dictatorships and threaten such dictatorships with sanctions. We all know that neither side is going to change their stance so what is there to negotiate?

Politically speaking, the USA could use this situation to deal with the Iran situation without starting another war - drop a bomb on North Korea to teach North Korea a lesson and intimidate the rest of the world.

[Fred Steeves]

Aaaaarrrrggghhh! How many thousands of bombs were exploded in the 1950s-1970s? Let's not worry about the splinter in Noth Koreas's eye while we have a log in our own eye...

No kidding Paranormal, but then again hypocrisy is the standard of our diplomacy.

NQ1ApOa9tgA

[bram]

drop a bomb on North Korea to teach North Korea a lesson and intimidate the rest of the world.

That would certainly intimidate me for starters. Is this a serious suggestion?

[sdv]

drop a bomb on North Korea to teach North Korea a lesson and intimidate the rest of the world.

That would certainly intimidate me for starters. Is this a serious suggestion?

Definitely not a suggestion. However, the USA is probably considering this as a political option. My guess is they are more likely to turn to the UN and push for severe sanctions at all levels.

The USA and North Korea should just leave each other alone and stop all this posturing!

[syrwong]

The Cabals want to create the illusion that N. Korea is a big threat to world peace, like they have done the same to Iran and Iraq. Let us not support this illusion by clipping from propaganda news.

Words like "The international community condemns ...", "North Korea defies UN ...", "Analysts said ..." are propagandistic. (Who are the international community? Who are the analysts? Does UN really represent the world nations?)

[truth will win out]

Aaaaarrrrggghhh! How many thousands of bombs were exploded in the 1950s-1970s? Let's not worry about the splinter in Noth Koreas's eye while we have a log in our own eye...

I agree.

I hold no ill will for them testing a nuke( Except for polluting our planet with another nuke test) . But I rather them spend that money on feeding their population instead of testing a nuke. As always that is just my opinion.

[baddbob]

This is definitely something to watch and be concerned over.
North Korea sends nuclear message, capability unclear.
North Korean nuclear test draws anger, including from China.
UN Weighs New N.Korea Sanctions After Nuclear Test.
Obama pledges swift reaction to NK nuclear test.
Tough UN action vowed after North Korean nuclear test.

North Korea nuclear test: live
North Korea says it has carried out a successful nuclear test, drawing widespread international condemnation. Follow the latest reaction from around the world as the UN prepares to hold an emergency meeting.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9864200/North-Korea-nuclear-test-live.html

No Fear intended. Its kind of like a runaway train
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