Posted on 02/11/2013 8:31:00 PM PST by PGR88
North Korea staged an apparent nuclear test on Tuesday in a striking act of defiance that, if confirmed, is sure to trigger global condemnation from enemies and allies alike.
The Punggye-ri nuclear test facility in North Korea in January. Photo: AFP Yonhap said an “artificial earthquake of 5.1 magnitude” had been detected in Kilju county, where the Punggye-ri test site is located.
The China Earthquake Network Centre, affiliated with China’s Earthquake Administration, said a quake at 10.57am was a "suspected explosion", and occurred at a "focal depth of 0 km”.
The US Geological Survey measured it as a 4.9-magnitude quake at a very shallow depth of just one kilometre. It said the epicentre was close to the North’s known nuclear test site.
South Korea’s presidential office said that it was "likely” a nuclear test, Yonhap reported. North Korea is not prone to seismic activity.
Yonhap also reported that North Korea had informed Beijing and Washington of its plans to undertake a nuclear test.
The South Korean defence ministry and the presidential Blue House both said they were trying to verify whether a nuclear detonation had taken place. If confirmed, it would mark the third time the North has detonated a nuclear device, following previous tests in 2006 and 2009.
Japan meteorologists said the North Korea tremor was “different from a normal earthquake”.
“The Japanese meteorlolgical agency detected the wave is different from a normal earthquake and centred at a latitude of 41.2 North and longitude 129.3 East, which is estimated at magnitude 5.2 when converting to an earthquake,” public broadcaster NHK reported.
NHK also said Japan’s government will hold a national security council meeting.
Pyongyang has been threatening a “higher-level” nuclear test for weeks despite warnings of severe repercussions from the UN Security Council.
North Korea’s powerful politburo vowed to continue firing “powerful long-range rockets,” but a statement on Tuesday made no mention of Pyongyang’s promise to conduct a nuclear test.
The United States and its allies have been on edge since North Korea said last month it will conduct its third nuclear test to protest toughened sanctions over a December rocket launch that the U.N. called a cover for a banned missile test.
North Korea’s powerful National Defense Commission said Jan. 23 that the United States was its prime target for a nuclear test and long-range rocket launches. North Korea accuses Washington of leading the push to punish Pyongyang for its December rocket launch.
Last October, a spokesman from the commission told state media that the country had built a missile capable of striking the United States, but did not provide further details. A missile featured in an April last year military parade appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile, but its authenticity has not been verified by foreign experts.
Holy Sh&t! I wasn’t expecting them to do it so soon.
did you think they would be afraid of Obama?
Wait for Iran to test its nuke. Obama will be begging the UN for help.
So.....how big a bomb is 4.9 on the Richter scale?
So.....how big a bomb is 4.9 on the Richter scale?
It’s “defiantly” now? What happened to “allegedly”?! Passé? Damn, I missed the memo!
Just surprised that they didn’t say “Unexpectedly.”
Obamamedia will, just watch it.
Besides that, there is little doubt that it was timed one day before the Won’s another Brave Victory Speech.
But this just can’t be - I’m sure Hillary talked to them and treated them to the old Clinton charm over the years - and surely they heard Obama’s apology speeches about how bad this country has been and how we were going to be nicer to everybody from here on in - North Korea just doesn’t appreciate expert diplomacy.....
Estimates are of a yield between 7 and 15 kilotons.
The Hiroshima bomb was 19 kilotons.
If only Madeline Albright had kept the grass cut and the transvestites flowing, we’d all be safe.
For a nuke? A dud.
..................... CRICKETS .......................
Yet for an American city? Annihilation.
Don't worry! Obama is assembling his cabinet and closest advisers to discuss such hot topics and important issues. The subject today : "How can we get an 18 hole golf course at Camp David?"
[Wait for Iran to test its nuke. Obama will be begging the UN for help.]
Doubt it.. he will just tell the UN what he told Panetta, do whatever you have to do, I’m too busy right now.
He will then proceed to call Iran and send them congratulations and welcoming them to the nuclear community.
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