North Korea suffered a magnitude-6.3 earthquake this morning that international authorities have confirmed was caused by a successful test of a hydrogen bomb.
This test marks the sixth nuclear test by the rogue state since 2006.
It comes amid a seriously tense global situation, thanks in no small part to your friend and mine President Donald J. Trump. Only days ago, North Korea launched a missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, seemingly in response to the American president’s infamous “fire and fury” speech.
South Korean authorities have said that this nuclear test was five or six times stronger than North Korea’s last one, detected in a similar area last year.
Announcer Ri Chun Hee is talking about the bomb as being “two stage” pic.twitter.com/DqsYnWSkjy
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) September 3, 2017
#DPRK broadcast says 6th nuclear test “a total success.” pic.twitter.com/m2ItlIHL8E
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) September 3, 2017
Just hours before the detected tremor, Kim Jong-un was shown on North Korean state media inspecting a new hydrogen bomb designed to be small and light enough to be launched intercontinentally – putting both the United States and Australia within range.
It remains unconfirmed whether it was this smaller bomb that was tested today.
Julie Bishop had the following to say on the news:
The reports are deeply concerning and only serve to emphasise the importance of using sanctions to compel North Korea to abandon its illegal programs.
Those sanctions have so far come mostly from North Korea’s trade partners, China and Russia, and appear to have done exactly bupkis to stymie their nuclear development program.
Now, all there is to do for the rest of the world is wait with bated breath to see exactly how Trump responds to this latest provocation. Start digging your bunkers now, folks.
