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TechnoratiNorth Korea Tests Nuclear Weapon 'As Powerful as Hiroshima Bomb'
![[Anti-North Korea protesters chant slogans and hold signs denouncing North Korea's nuclear test, in Seoul May 25, 2009. North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test on Monday, stoking tension across the regional economic powerhouse of East Asia and prompting U.N. Security Council members to call an emergency meeting. A defaced North Korean flag reads,"(North Korea's) Nuclear test out!".
REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won (SOUTH KOREA MILITARY POLITICS CONFLICT)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/northkorea-2.jpg "northkorea-2.jpg")
The test comes less than two months after the North enraged the US and its allies by test firing a long-range ballistic missile.
The KNCA news agency, the regime's official mouthpiece, said: "We have successfully conducted another nuclear test on 25 May as part of the republic's measures to strengthen its nuclear deterrent."
Officials in South Korea said they had detected a tremor consistent with those caused by an underground nuclear explosion. The country's Yonhap news agency reported that the North had test fired three short-range missiles immediately after the nuclear test from a base on the east coast.
The underground atomic explosion, at 9.54am local time, created an earthquake measuring magnitude 4.5 in Kilju county in the country's north-east, reports said.
President Barack Obama called the test a matter of grave concern to all countries. "North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community," Obama said in a statement. "North Korea's behaviour increases tensions and undermines stability in north-east Asia."
The UN security council will hold an emergency meeting in New York later today to discuss its response to the latest escalation in the crisis. Obama and other leaders did not offer details on the council's possible response.
China, North Korea's key ally, said it was "resolutely opposed" to the test, urging its neighbour to avoid actions that would sharpen tensions and return to six-party arms-for-disarmament talks.
Japan, which considers itself high on the North's potential hit list, said it would seek a new resolution condemning the test.
Russian defence experts estimated the explosion's yield at between 10 and 20 kilotons, many times more than the 1 kiloton measured in its first nuclear test in 2006 and about as powerful as the bombs the US used against Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the second world war. One kiloton is equal to the force produced by 1,000 tons of TNT.
The force of the blast made the ground tremble in the Chinese border city of Yanji, 130 miles away.
The North Korean news agency said the test had been "safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control. The test will contribute to defending the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism and ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula and the region."
Gordon Brown described the test as "erroneous, misguided and a danger to the world". The prime minister added: "This act will undermine prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula and will do nothing for North Korea's security.
South Korea and Japan condemned the test, North Korea's second since it exploded its first nuclear device in October 2006 in defiance of international opinion. That test prompted the UN security to pass a resolution banning Pyongyang from activities related to its ballistic missile programme.
The South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, convened a session of the country's security council after seismologists reported earthquakes in the Kilju region, site of the North's first nuclear test.
In Tokyo, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Takeo Kawamura, said the test was "a clear violation of the UN security council resolution and cannot be tolerated".
North Korea had warned of a second nuclear test after the UN condemned its test-launch of a ballistic missile on 5 April and agreed to tighten sanctions put in place in 2006.
Pyongyang insisted it had put a peaceful communications satellite in orbit, but experts said the technology and methods were identical to those used to launch a long-range Taepodong-2 missile.
After the UN refused to apologise for condemning the launch, North Korea expelled international inspectors, threatened to restart its Yongbyon nuclear reactor - which it had agreed to start dismantling in 2007 - and walked away from six-party nuclear talks.
Today's test will add to fears that the North is moving closer to possessing the ability to mount a nuclear warhead on long-range missiles that are capable, in theory, of reaching Hawaii and Alaska.
"This test, if confirmed, could indicate North Korea's decision to work at securing actual nuclear capabilities," Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongkuk University in Seoul, told Reuters.
"North Korea had been expecting the new US administration to mark a shift from the previous administration's stance, but is realising that there are no changes. It may have decided that a second test was necessary. [It] seems to be reacting to the US and South Korean administrations' policies."
Analysts believe the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, hopes to use the test to shore up support from the military amid mounting speculation that he is about to name one of his three sons as his successor.
Kim, 67, appears to be re-establishing his grip on power since reportedly suffering a stroke last August. Today's test is a direct challenge to attempts by Obama to engage the North and stem the spread of nuclear weapons.
Despite promising a fresh start to bilateral relations, Obama, who denounced last month's missile launch as "a provocation," has so far failed to persuade North Korean to enter into negotiations.
Kim Myong-chol, executive director of the Centre for Korean-American Peace in Tokyo, who is close to Pyongyang, said the test was a reminder that North Korea "is going it alone as a nuclear power".
"North Korea doesn't need any talks with America. America is tricky and undesirable," he said. "It does not implement its own agreements.
"We are not going to worry about sanctions. If they sanction us, we will become more powerful. Sanctions never help America; they are counter-productive ... We don't care about America and what they say."
80 Comments so far
Show AllIt's nice that the DPRK ran their test underground. I can remember growing up in California and getting 'dusted' every few months with Republican President Eisenhower's "Atoms For Peace" tests.
"Japan, which considers itself high on the North's potential hit list..." I am wondering why Japan would think that North Korea would launch a nuclear weapon against it? North Korea probably has some bad feelings about the Japanese from the WWII era but that would not be reason enough to lob a nuke at them. Especially considering what the response would be by the U.S.A. Seems to me that North Korea's pursuit of nukes is entirely motivated by concerns for self-defense.
Because Japan is pretty much the regional leader when it comes to being tough on North Korea. To the north is China, pretty much the DPRK's only friend. Immediately south is the ROK, which is fairly hostile but desires a peaceful end and reunion. Further south is Japan, which hates DPRK's guts, and is a regional economic superpower and a decent military power too. It pays to study realism and related ideas, even if you don't really buy into them yourself.
Koreans, both the North and South varieties, hate the Japanese with a passion. Considering the delicate way the Japanese treated the Koreans before and during the war against American oppression, this hatred is understandable. However, it is also understandable why, today, the Japanese are VERY worried about the North's bomb.
Let's see here... If North Korea stages an attack with it's handful of bombs on Tokyo or Seoul, it would face instant retialiatory nuclear anhillation, with worldwide support, including China.
So, I find the idea that this nuclear test points to a threat of N. Korea attacking it's neighbors to be just this side of preposterous - and is largely alarmist propaganda for public consumption. The "insanity" argument doesn't fly, because North Koreas actions up to an including this action are rational. It's nuclear test was purely a defensive action, or a calculation that it would goad the west to resume negotiations.
It seems that even tighter sanctions may be counterproductive. There is a point of where even a rational person could resort to a "Sampson option" if pushed to sufficient level of desperation.
After almost 60 years, we are long overdue for a negotiated end to the Korean War.
Personally I don't think sanctions do jack except hurt NK's population. I also don't consider NK's leadership to be reasonable in any way. So, what to do? I have no clue.
After word war 2, Japan pumped in immense amounts investment and aid into South Korea, and the rest of East Asia. Of the total foreign direct investment into South Korea from 1962 to 1984, Japan accounted for about 52 percent. South Korea, and many other countries in East Asia, would not be the economic powerhouse it is today, if not for Japanese investment, aid, and transfer of technology post world war 2.
The Koreans hate the Japanese. Period. The right or wrongs of that hatred are irrelevent, although if the Japanese ever did like the Germans and at least ACKNOWLEDGED that they did wrong during and before the war, it would be a big help.
No, the rights or wrongs are not irrelevant. Details are never irrelevant.
Let me see if I understand this completely.
North Korea has nuclear weapons. I think we all agree on that.
Kim Jong Ir is a raving lunatic, and is most definitely not stable. I think most sane people agree on that.
BUT
Because the USA is bad, and Bush was evil, and Israel is full of Jews, it is OK for North Korea to have nuclear weapons, and we should not worry at all about them using them on the South or Japan.
Right?
Wrong, slave.
It's because Israel is run by zionist monsters.
So it is: Because Israel is run by zionist monsters, it is OK for North Korea to have nuclear weapons, and we should not worry at all about them using them on the South or Japan.
Thanks for clearing that up.
The USA is the only country that has comitted the war crime of nuking two cities, typical USA´n arrogance and naivete coupled with plain stupidity prevented its leaders at the time to realize what would obviously come next: an arms race (altought maybe they did know it and understood it would mean BIG business).
Now nine countries possess those precious weapons of mass destruction, fear and greed made them possible and so desirable, im certain that North Korea wont get invaded as Iraq was in the "search" of the WMD also the big bad wolf aint North Korea but the USA wich has a long history of invations and imposing its military might on weaker countries looting their resources and supporting its dictators.
Thats the reason not only North Korea but EVERY country in the world should have access to nuclear weapons, even those run by crazed dictators or puppet leaders after all everyone has a right to "protect themselves" from "preemptive attacks" (or to reataliate).
Now theres one more country nukes to worry about but what the hell if the USA has had them for so long and not used them again maybe no one will uh?.
I hope I was clear enough.
Peace.
"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." John Steinbeck
You are right, big bad America (probably acting under the control of GW Bush, even though he was not born yet.) dropped atom bombs on poor innocent Japan, a country that had certainly done nothing (aside from the minor unpleasantness involving Pearl Harbor, Bataan, the prison/death camps, Kamikazi attacks and an utterly altruistic attempt to "civilize" Korea and China, especially nanking in 1937.) to provoke such attacks.
And, because America is bad, and Jews are worse, every thug on the planet should have nuclear weapons. Considering that it is reasonably sure that it will NOT be Americans who die if Kim Jong Ir actually uses his bomb, that is an interesting point of view.
Quit the "leftists hate Israel because they hate Jews" bullshit, it is REALLY getting fucking old. There are plenty of Jews, myself included, on this website who are fiercely critical of Israel's policies, and this ridiculous strategy of killing criticism by conflating antipathy toward Israeli policies with antipathy toward Jews is about as offensive as GENUINE anti-semitism. So knock of the bullshit.
No, it is the concept that if enough thugs, and non thugs, if everyone basically, get their hands on nuclear weapons, enough people will wake up and realise that nuclear weapons need to be completely banned. Instead of the current system, where a small group has them, while any thug that wants to threaten the world desires them.
Actually I'm reasonably sure many Americans will die if DPRK nukes either its southern cousin or Japan...lots of American troops stationed in South Korea, and plenty of American tourists and businessmen in both.
You are, of course, correct. I should rephrase that. It is reasonably certain that it will not be an American CITY that gets vaporized if Kim Jong Ir gets stupid.
OK, so because Israel is very bad, every other thug in the world gets a pass?
How progressive...
Exactly!!!
The proof is in: militarism begets more militarism. Could this be any clearer? If we do not see, it's because we do not want to see, better to be blinded by self-righteous indignation.
Very true!!!!!!!!!
Great quote at the end of the article: "North Korea doesn't need any talks with America. America is tricky and undesirable," he said. "It does not implement its own agreements."
We like to think that North Korea is run by lunatics, but we should know that the rest of the world sees US as the crazies. Bush actually told French president Chirac that God wanted a war in the Middle East in order to destroy Gog and Magog, which are forces of the Apocalypse who are prophesied to come out of the north and destroy Israel unless stopped. Bush told Chirac that God wants to "erase" mid-east enemies before starting a "new age."
"Biblical Prophesy and the Iraq War: Bush, God, Iraq and Gog," by Clive Anderson.
http://counterpunch.org/hamilton05222009.html
Ah, to see ourselves as others see us! At least North Korea's Dear Leader is not crazy enough to think his orders for war and destruction come directly from God.
I agree!
No country can sanely nuke another country. If it does it will be nuked in return. Obama's stated goal is a nuke free world The U.S. and Russia as the largest holders of such weapons should lead the way. If not we are ALL in trouble.
Its too late. Nukes will be used. Probably this decade.
Why do we hear nothing about the most powerful country in the Middle East testing its atomic bombs? The hero, Mordechai Vannunu spent years in prison, most of it in solitary confinement, for revealing to the world details of Israel's nuclear program. Israeli secret police kidnapped Mr. Vannunu using a woman as bait, & carted him off to prison.
Israel has received the equivalent of $10,000,000 every single day, using WWII as a baseline, a gift from U.S. taxpayers. All this so Israel can build its walls, imprison Palestinians & kill them with weapons, many of them manufactured in the U.S. The specially constructed tractors used to bulldoze Palestinian homes are manufactured in the U.S. by Caterpillar.
Israel, next to the U.S., is almost unequaled in terms of imperial aims, murder of innocent men, woman, & children, and destroyer of property.
No nukes is good nukes.
I'm told that DPRK had enough stuff to make eight bombs.
Now they only have enough to make seven.
Korea has a long, long history of being invaded and overrun.
Perhaps now they can relax a bit. Who knows - some day Korea may reunite. US willing.
Why are the North Koreans doing this now? Among others because they may have concluded that President Obama is entering deep political doodoo in our country: Guantanamo, Torture, Supreme Court, Health Insurance, "Victory" in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan, Economy, Banks, you name it.
Take out rogue state Israel NOW.
And "taking out" (How, are you planning on enlisting and fighting in the war to take them out?) Israel will solve the problem of the North Korean crazies exactly HOW?
Maybe he wants the North Korean crazies to "take out" Israel with their new atomic bombs.
President Barack Obama called the test a matter of grave concern to all countries. He has decided to call for the reinstitution of the draft and the eventual invasion of "that looney bin, that snake pit known as North Korea." President Obama went to say that, paraphrasing General Patton, we will go through North Korea "like crap through a goose".
Hmmm, myriad attacks on the US, but not one realistic suggestion as to what to do about Kim Jong Ir's bombs. Maybe they will just go away?
Liberdade, you must be new here. Attacks on the US and it's policies and pretty much anything american are common. they usually increase around holidays like memorial day and independence day.
chameleon
Progressives often like to see people Alive.
US policies, think Afghanistan & Pakistan & Iraq, often like to see people Dead.
Common Dreams is a Progressive news web-site.
Fox News has an excellent web-page with comment sections and intellectual articles by Limbaugh, Joe The Plumber and American military personnel.
God Bless America.
If the "Progressives" posting on this site "often liked to see people alive", we would see more outrage at things like the NK bomb, starvation in Zimbabwe, Chinese oppression in Tibet, and Chinese threats against the independent State of Taiwan, Darfur, Rwanda, Russian agression in Georgia, Russian aggresion in Chechyna, and on and on ad nauseum
The reality is "progressives" do not give a rats @ss if the victims are not Palestenians or the agressors are not Jews.
Or perhaps it has never occurred to you that something about being citizens of the US is what compels Americans on CD to focus overwhelmingly on America's role in the world. America has spent most of the past century as self-proclaimed mediator of international affairs, during which time it exercised gross partiality, aggression, reckless irresponsibility, and complete indifference toward human rights. Perhaps, then, there is a certain hypocrisy in demanding that America address issues such as those you've cited. Because maybe, just maybe, as citizens of the most powerful country in the world, we feel a certain grave sense of responsibility for the actions of the country and the atrocities committed in our name using our hard-earned money.
Georgia was most definitely not an innocent party in that recent misadventure. The thing is, most of us are Americans...what can we do to influence the policies of China, Sudan, or Russia? Absolutely nothing. But we can try to change American policies for the better, through voting, contacting our representatives, running for office, etc...one of the reasons for so much focus on America's mistakes and actions on this website.
So true!! Just like insulting cops if you are a street thug, one sure way to elicit approval on commondreams is to say something--anything really--negative about the U.S. The comment about the holidays was a nice touch.
The standard worldview here is that the world would be in a state of harmony, peace and prosperity if it weren't for the actions of the United States government. One can really sense the cognitive dissonance when a story is posted about a reckless despot outside our borders. So what do people do? They claim that if we would get rid of our nuclear stockpile and rid Israel of theirs, then perhaps North Korea would voluntarily give up their weapons program.
I understand that our government has to obey international law if we are going to expect others to do the same. However, that is not the same as blaming North Korea's behavior on the U.S. and its allies.
Are you kidding? North Korea is part of the "Axis of Evil" remember? That worked out real well for Iraq.
Well, as long as the two countries were part of the same speech somewhere, by someone, then they must be exactly the same and we ought to expect the same results.
Oh, it just occurred to me--I bet North Korea doesn't even have weapons of mass destruction!! I mean after all, Iraq was part of the axis of evil and they didn't have WMDs. What could make more sense?
Following your "logic"--Iraq didn't have WMDs and they were invaded, so maybe it makes sense for North Korea to have them.
The point is that the U.S. has no moral authority on this matter.
Pure twaddle.
Why would anyone pay attention to the great Protector of War Criminals?
It is time for a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.It should be no problem for signatory states of the Non proliferation agreements,...like Iran .But maybe we could get rogue states like the U.S., Israel Korea,and others on board now.The U.S. and other states can use computer simulations without destabilising the rest of the planet. peace
The US did sign the NPT right? I agree with what you are saying though.
Signed, but not ratified. The Senate voted against, in 1999.
Anyone out there feel "threatened" by tiny, isolationist North Korea? Nuclear bomb or mot?
I don't.
Ask someone from South Korea or Japan that question.
Are you insane Zmann?
If which of your fevered neoconservative dreams does N. Korea launch a nuke attack on Japan or South Korea?
Go try to sell your "America should protect the world" argument somewhere else, and perhaps sometime when America is not currently busy with three wars of aggression.
Oh sure, and N. Korea never, ever invaded and nearly conquered South Korea and threatened to attack Japan. Try waking up you fool, the U.S. is not the only nation that attacks others.
You are asserting that N. Korea wants to nuke and invade South Korea.
Wow.
At least I got an answer. You are quite clearly insane.
Wow. With your ignorance of reality, you should host a Fox (not) News show.
North Korea lacks any kind of capability to attack the US. It lacks any kind of capability to attack Israel. It DOES have the capability to attack neighbouring countries, such as Japan, South Korea, China etc. Note, I am saying capability. Not intentions. Regardless of whether it ever intends to use nuclear weapons against Japan or South Korea, it has the capability now to do so. It isn't unreasonable for Japan or South Korea to be concerned.
South Korea and Japan should fend for themselves. Is the U.S. to be their defense umbrella into perpetuity? Vietnam seems to be doing quite well without that U.S. umbrella.
Are you advocating a unilateral foreign policy for every country? The world's nations need to join forces for common interests such as non-proliferation.
How would Vietnam be doing if they shared a border with North Korea?
So, even when a country wants our help we shouldn't help defend them? "Everyone should fend for themselves" sounds a little like the conservative doctrine of self-reliance instead of community and solidarity. And Japan is constitutionally prohibited from having a genuine military, thanks to us...and unlike North Korea (and us really), South Korea is more focused on its economy than its military.
I should point out that while Japan's constitutional ban on having a real military was put in by the US, it is the Japanese populace who want it to continue to be so.
The US administration nowadays would actually prefer Japan take a more aggressive military posture. The citizens of Japan refuse to allow their government to have a "genuine" military.
Just a minute....Community and solidarity - you are connecting these ideals with nuclear war?
Are you separating the u.s. focus on 'economy' from focus on 'military'? Are you not aware of the connections here? I am not being sarcastic at all. Just surprised.
No, I'm connecting them with common defense against a psycho.
And I guess I wasn't clear enough with this...the U.S. economy is basically driven by the military right now, at least those parts and aren't whored by Wall Street. I'm well aware of the connections.
Withdrawn because of irrelevency.
President Barack Obama called Israel's nuclear weapons program a matter of grave concern to all countries. "Israel is directly and recklessly challenging the international community," Obama said in a statement. "Israel's behaviour increases tensions and undermines stability in the Middle East."
That's what Obama said as an organizer and a human-being. Then, he received the green light from the Israel Lobby to run for president, on the condition that he dropped his "anti-semitic" rhetoric in favor of more constructive speech about our support for zionist expansionism in the Middle East through ethnic cleansing.
One a more real level, the policies of the US administration and Netanyahu's ideology of conquest are dangerous to Jews everywhere.
I second that.
Obama says: "North Korea's behaviour increases tensions and undermines stability in north-east Asia." and: "North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community," Wow! Jesus! Lord above....look in the mirror man! Just who is challenging the international community and causing instability world wide! Americka, the great terrorist state of the twenty first century! While America is illegally invading countries and murdering and torturing, civilians as well as a some militia trying to defend their country and the lives of their citizens, some countries are busy trying to create a deterent to the US invading and murdering and torturing them! Gee! Why would anyone want to protect themselves from the beneficent, good hearted, freedom loving, generous and compassionate, altuistic and helpful american military and political institutions? Just ask the people of Vietnam, Chile, San Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, Argentina, Gaza, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, East Timor etc etc. I'm sure they'll all tell you about the good graces of the US military and their friendly negotiators, the CIA. Yea! I can't wait until they come into my country, Canada, and liberate me from my home and job and kill a couple of my kids and rape my wife!!! Then, i will be brothers with all those others who have been the recipients of Amerika's good will and generous heart!! Bring on the freedom lovers!!
Your observations are are true---and just to add an irony; this article uses as a comparison, a very strong sub conscience message; the 'bomb at Hiroshima, which was the second time nuclear weapons were used, both on a civilian population; and America dropped them both knowing they were civilian targets.
The USA still remains the only "users" of Nuclear Weapons-----
Some of them seem to be proud of that.
George Bush probably ordered the bombs dropped...
Poor peaceful Japanese, they were doing absolutely NOTHING during the 1941 to 1945 period that would make the evil, very bad, no good at all stinking Americans drop those bombs on them...
You might wish to re-read--the posting. I emphasized 'civilian' targets--which were intentionally bombed. Or are you incapable of making a distinction, like so many other Americans?
Ahh, great, now the stereotyping begins. "Like so many other Americans" That is so cute. During a total war, STARTED by the Japanese and Germans, there are no civilian targets. If you do not like that, don't start the war.
By the way, we killed MORE Japanese during a firebomb raid on Tokyo in March of 1945 than we did with the atom bombs. And our little British Brothers probably killed more Germans in Dresden in February of '45 than died in Nagasaki. But, who cares about facts. Emotions are much more fun.
You obviously suffer from a very common, 'conservative American pseudo medical condition'----CRIS---"Cranial Rectal Insertion Syndrome"-----unfortunately, your head seems so far "up there" you can't hear the simple instructions----"pull it out, pull it out"......
Good Luck you really need it.
risingdawn, let's remember the words of America's patron saint, Saint Ronald the Reagan, when he spoke of mutual assured destruction. The sad fact is if you are a neighbor of America or Israel and don't have nuclear weapons, you are living on borrowed time. As for North Korea, how about signing a peace treaty to officially end the war, and pulling our troops out of the south?
WHAT?!?!? Come ON, man! South Korea is a major profit center for the MIC. Its time to arm the South with nuclear weapons. Its the least we could do in our apparent mission to destabilize the entire world.
It was already done a long time ago. The US has 200 nukes in S. Korea.
Very Well Said
Well said!
The sad truth is that EVERY small country should have nuclear weapons, to protect themselves from the U.S. and Israel.
President Obama seeks a world free of ALL nuclear weapons. The US and Russia should lead the way. Otherwise proliferation will continue.
"President Obama seeks a world free of ALL nuclear weapons. "
I have a bridge I'm trying to sell, if you're interested, it's in Brooklyn...
LOL
I agree with your sentiment here!!!!!!