North Korea conducted tests of ballistic missile warheads equivalent to 10 kilotons, almost twice as powerful as the latest test’s kiloton yield.
North Korean TV described the detonation as a step into making the country more able to putting nuclear warheads on rockets. South Korea estimates that the nuclear tests performed on Friday are the biggest and most powerful yet, raising important concerns among its allies, especially the U.S.
Nuclear weapons for a deranged nation
The nuclear test was detected by the U.S. Geological Survey, who reported an explosion causing a seismic event at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time 12 miles from Sungjibaegam, North Korea.
Karl Dewey from IHS Jane’s explains that the explosive artifact tested by Kim Jong-Un’s North Korea is “smaller than both Hiroshima or Nagasaki, but it would still rip the heart out of a city.”
“If detonated in the middle of Lower Manhattan in New York, for example, it would destroy pretty much everything up to the West Village and down to about the New York Stock Exchange.”
Even if it seems that one of North Korea’s top priorities is to develop ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads able to reach U.S. soil, sheer explosion power is not the only factor that should be taken into account, as none of North Korea’s missiles can reach the U.S. nor be accurate enough to destroy a specific target.
Is there a threat?
Analysts believe that North Koreans do have the ability to cause significant harm by using nuclear weapons and that the only thing they must develop is the sufficient missile technology in order to deliver the warhead with enough accuracy.
With the argument that practice makes perfect, North Korea could potentially become proficient in missile launching in less than six years. Kim Jong-Un’s rule has been erratic and brutal, and the availability of weapons able to kill thousands of people in seconds make a lethal combination against the world and South Korea, a country that’s still warring against its northern counterpart.
Recent tests performed by North Korea show that they are able to reach up to 620 miles, as some of the missiles landed in the proximity of Japan, which escalated tensions in the eastern region of Asia.
Economic sanctions and isolation from free world politics place a heavy burden on Kim Jong-Un’s shoulders, as the nation is slumping in hunger and an imminent financial crisis, but the authoritative rule of North Korea’s Supreme Leader directs too much effort into military prowess, mainly to keep tensions high and force the population to believe that they are in a constant war. Despite several economic sanctions, North Korea, has made significant progress in the development of their nuclear arsenal, which raises the question of how much time until they finally decide to attack a neighboring country.
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled a meeting about ceasing the nuclear progress of North Korea by delivering a “robust response” to their actions. World powers agree that North Korea is becoming increasingly more erratic and closer to achieving a way of having important leverage when threatening other nations.
Source: NBC