{"id":246957,"date":"2016-09-09T05:48:54","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T05:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=246957"},"modified":"2016-09-09T05:48:54","modified_gmt":"2016-09-09T05:48:54","slug":"north-korea-claims-success-in-fifth-nuclear-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/09\/north-korea-claims-success-in-fifth-nuclear-test\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea claims success in fifth nuclear test"},"content":{"rendered":"
North Korea says it has successfully carried out its fifth test of a nuclear device.<\/p>\n
The announcement on state media came hours after a huge seismic event was detected near its nuclear test site.<\/p>\n
South Korea believes it is the North’s biggest ever test, raising fears the state has made real nuclear advances.<\/p>\n
South Korean President Park Geun-hye called it an act of “self-destruction” which showed the “maniacal recklessness” of leader Kim Jong-un.<\/p>\n
The North said the test had been of a “newly developed nuclear warhead” and that it was now capable of mounting a nuclear device on ballistic rockets.<\/p>\n
South Korea’s military has suggested that the explosive yield of this blast could be almost twice that of the previous nuclear test. Analysts have expressed fears this could mean the North is a step closer to having a useable nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
Ms Park, who is cutting short an overseas visit, said the test was a “grave challenge” to the international community which would “only earn more sanctions and isolation” for North Korea.<\/p>\n
“Such provocation will further accelerate its path to self-destruction,” she said.<\/p>\n
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country “absolutely cannot condone” any such test and would “protest adamantly” to Pyongyang.<\/p>\n
“North Korea’s nuclear development is becoming a graver threat to Japan’s safety and severely undermines the peace and safety of the region and the international community,” he said.<\/p>\n
Long-expected test<\/strong><\/p>\n The test was first detected as a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Friday morning in north-east North Korea, close to its Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site.<\/p>\n