Jump to content

2017 North Korean nuclear test

Coordinates: 41°20′35″N 129°02′10″E / 41.343°N 129.036°E / 41.343; 129.036
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 147.0.98.74 (talk) at 22:33, 13 September 2017 (A lot of it). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2017 North Korean nuclear test
Graphic from the United States Geological Survey showing the location of seismic activity at the time of the test
Information
Country North Korea
Test site41°20′35″N 129°02′10″E / 41.343°N 129.036°E / 41.343; 129.036[1]
Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, Kilju County
Period12:00:01, 3 September 2017 (2017-09-03T12:00:01) UTC+08:30 (03:30:01 UTC)[1]
Number of tests1
Max. yield
Test chronology

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on 3 September 2017, stating it was its first test of a thermonuclear weapon (hydrogen bomb).[6]

The United States Geological Survey reported an earthquake of 6.3-magnitude not far from North Korea's Puniggye-ri nuclear test site.[7] South Korean authorities said the earthquake seemed to be artificial, consistent with a nuclear test.[8] The USGS, as well as China Earthquake Networks Center, reported that the initial event was followed by a second, smaller, earthquake at the site, several minutes later, which was characterized as a collapse of the cavity.[9][10]

Nuclear device

Order to conduct the test, signed by Kim Jong-un on 3 September 2017

The North Korean government said it has detonated a hydrogen bomb that could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[11] The announcement stated the warhead had a variable yield "the explosive power of which is adjustable from tens kiloton to hundreds kiloton ... which can be detonated even at high altitudes for super-powerful EMP attack".[12] A later technical announcement called the device a "two-stage thermo-nuclear weapon" and stated experimental measurements were fully compatible with the design specification, and there had been no leakage of radioactive materials from the underground nuclear test.[13][6]

Photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a device resembling a thermonuclear weapon warhead were released a few hours before the test.[14]

Yield estimates

On the day of the test the chief of the South Korean parliament's defense committee, Kim Young-Woo, stated the nuclear yield was equivalent to about 100 kilotons of TNT (100 kt): "The North's latest test is estimated to have a yield of up to 100 kilotons, though it is a provisional report."[15] The independent seismic monitoring agency NORSAR estimated that the blast had a yield of about 120 kilotons, based on a seismic magnitude of 5.8.[16]

On 4 September, the academics from the University of Science and Technology of China[2] released their findings based on seismic results and concluded that the nuclear test occurred at 41°17′53.52″N 129°4′27.12″E / 41.2982000°N 129.0742000°E / 41.2982000; 129.0742000 at 03:30 UTC, only a few hundred meters from the four previous tests (2009, 2013, January 2016 and September 2016) with the estimated yield at 108.1 ± 48.1 kt.

On 5 September, the Japanese government gave a yield estimate of about 160 kilotons, based on analysing Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization seismic data, replacing an early estimate of 70 kilotons.[4]

On 6 September, an early assessment by U.S. Intelligence that the yield was 140 kilotons, with an undisclosed margin of error, was reported.[3]

On 12 September, NORSAR revised its estimate of the earthquake magnitude upward to 6.1, matching that of the CTBTO, but more powerful than the USGS estimate of 6.3. Its yield estimate was revised to 250 kilotons, while noting the estimate had some uncertainty and an undisclosed margin of error.[5][17]

Reactions

The United Nations Security Council met in an open emergency meeting on 4 September 2017, at the request of the US, South Korea, Japan, France and the UK.[18]

Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States voiced strong criticism of the nuclear test.[19][20][21][22][23]

US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: "North Korea has conducted a major nuclear test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States".[24][25] Trump was asked whether the U.S. would attack North Korea and replied: "We'll see."[26] Defense Secretary James Mattis warned North Korea that it would be met with a "massive military response" if it threatened the United States or its allies.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b "M 6.3 Explosion – 22 km ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea". USGS. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "North Korea's 3 September 2017 Nuclear Test Location and Yield: Seismic Results from USTC". Lianxing Wen's Geography. University of Science and Technology of China. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b Panda, Ankit (6 September 2017). "US Intelligence: North Korea's Sixth Test Was a 140 Kiloton 'Advanced Nuclear' Device". The Diplomat. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b "North Korean nuke test put at 160 kilotons as Ishiba urges debate on deploying U.S. atomic bombs". The Japan Times. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b "The nuclear explosion in North Korea on 3 September 2017: A revised magnitude assessment". NORSAR. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b Kemp, Ted (3 September 2017). "North Korea hydrogen bomb: Read the full announcement from Pyongyang". CNBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  7. ^ "North Korea confirms sixth nuclear test". CNN. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. ^ "North Korea conducts another nuclear test, neighbors say". The Washington Post. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  9. ^ "North Korea claims successful hydrogen bomb test". Deutsche Welle. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  10. ^ "North Korea nuclear test: 'Tunnel collapse' may provide clues". BBC News. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  11. ^ "North Korea says it successfully tested hydrogen bomb, marking sixth nuclear test since 2006". ABC News. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Sixth Nuclear Test Detected at Punggye-ri, Declared to be a Hydrogen Bomb". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  13. ^ Ankit Panda, Vipin Narang (5 September 2017). "Welcome to the H-Bomb Club, North Korea". The Diplomat. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Kim inspects 'nuclear warhead': A picture decoded". BBC News. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  15. ^ "N. Korea's apparent sixth nuke test estimated to have yield of 100 kilotons: lawmaker". Yonhap. 3 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Large nuclear test in North Korea on 3 September 2017". NORSAR. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  17. ^ Frank V. Pabian, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jack Liu (12 September 2017). "North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Satellite Imagery Shows Post-Test Effects and New Activity in Alternate Tunnel Portal Areas". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 13 September 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Pamela Falk (3 September 2017). "U.N. Security Council calls emergency meeting after latest North Korea test". CBS News. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  19. ^ Eric Talmadge; Foster Klug; Youkyung Lee; Kim Tong-hyung; Gillian Wong; Mari Yamaguchi (3 September 2017). "World Nations Condemn North Korea for Sixth Nuclear Test". Associated Press. Chiangrai Times. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  20. ^ "Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada in response to North Korea's latest testing of a nuclear weapon". Office of the Prime Minister (Press release). 3 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Philippines, Indonesia condemn North Korea missile". SunStar Manila. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Singapore 'strongly condemns' North Korea nuclear test: MFA". Channel NewsAsia. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  23. ^ "Malaysia strongly condemns North Korea's missile test". The Star. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  24. ^ Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (3 September 2017). "North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "North Korea nuclear test: Trump condemns 'hostile' move". BBC News. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  26. ^ Graham Russell; Tom McCarthy; Nicola Slawson; Melissa Davey (4 September 2017). "North Korea nuclear test: South Korea says it expects more missile launches – live". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Mattis warns North Korea of 'massive military response' if it threatens US". The Hill. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2017_North_Korean_nuclear_test&oldid=800496097"