Tension skyrocketing on the Korean peninsula. A few days after launching a missile that flew over Japan, North Korea conducts its sixth nuclear test since 2006, the most powerful yet, and announces that it has tested a hydrogen bomb with "perfect success". A decisive escalation in the tension between Pyongyang on the one hand, the US and its allies on the other. Convictions and requests for sanctions rained down from all over the world, and from the US President Donald Trump spoke of a "rogue nation", of "hostile and dangerous actions for the US", replying "we will see" to those who asked him if he intends to attack . And he announced a meeting with his advisers and the leaders of the armed forces.
A 6.3 earthquake was detected in the northern part of North Korea and shortly thereafter Pyongyang announced that it had tested a hydrogen bomb. The regime continues its missile and nuclear program in open challenge to the UN, after it was inaugurated in 2006 by Kim Jong-il, father of the current leader Kim Jong-un. As early as 2016, the regime said it had tested an H-bomb, but experts denied it. Now Pyongyang has said that the bomb was designed to be placed on a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
There is no external confirmation that it was indeed a hydrogen bomb, while Japan has said it cannot rule it out. Authorities in Tokyo and Beijing said it was 10 times more power than the shock of the last nuclear test a year ago. US intelligence, quoted by Reuters, spoke of an "advanced nuclear device", while evaluations will continue. For various experts, if it wasn't an H bomb, it was a bomb that comes close in power. Its strength was five times greater than that of the American bomb on Nagasaki in 1945, when 70000 people died instantly.
Trump has previously repeatedly used fiery tones towards the regime, speaking of "fire and fury" in response to threats and saying that "dialogue doesn't work" contradicted by Defense Secretary James Mattis, who promised inexhaustible diplomatic solutions. Today he wrote on Twitter that "talking is useless" (also criticizing Seoul for a wrong attitude), that Pyongyang is "very hostile and dangerous for the US", and that it is "considering, in addition to other options, to stop all commercial relations with those who do business ”with the regime. When asked if the US will attack, he replied: "We'll see." He also spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreeing to "increase the pressure" on Kim. Trump in the meantime will propose to block trade also with countries that have minimal relations with the Korean regime.
Beijing has long been considered 'close' to Pyongyang, but relations have been tense recently. After the test, he formally asked the regime to put an end to its "wrong actions" and respect for UN resolutions. President Xi Jinping also spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and the two have "agreed to adequately manage" the situation.
The list of convictions is very long. Among them that of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Aiea), which spoke of "serious concern" and said it was following developments closely. NATO has called for the "immediate end" of the atomic and missile program, in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" way. And the EU wants the UN Security Council to take a "firm and effective" position. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, asked that not only the UN, but also the EU act, and that sanctions “be strengthened.