North Korea Claims To Have A Hydrogen Bomb

Kim Jong Un of North Korea revealed that they were able to develop a hydrogen bomb. However senior intelligence and defense officials said there is no proof that this weapon was already developed by North Korea. Even though the North has a certain level of nuclear capability, it does not automatically mean they were able to develop an actual atomic bomb,

The announcement of the North Korean leader was doubted by the White House, indicating that these claims are seriously questioned by their intelligence.

The claims of Kim were reported by the Korea Central News Agency as the leader of North Korea toured Phyongchon Revolutionary Site. The official news agency of North Korea also flaunted the feats of the late father and grandfather of Kim, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, respectively.

Kim reportedly said the work of Kim Il Sung allowed North Korea to become a nuclear weapons state with its own atomic and hydrogen bomb that can be used in defending its sovereignty.

North Korea Claims To Have A Hydrogen Bomb - image credit: theguardian.com

A hydrogen bomb, which is also called a thermonuclear bomb, is capable of producing a stronger blast than the bombs that destroyed Nagasaki and Hiroshima in the Second World War. The North conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and in 2013. Due to this, The United Nations imposed sanction on the country that prohibited trading and financial activities that may enhance its nuclear weapons program.

However, the claims of North Korea were treated with caution by some experts and its neighbors. While the Chinese government is aware of the report, it did not release any statements on the credulity of the claims. Huan Chunying, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman of China said the Korean peninsula situation is complex, fragile and delicate and they are hoping that all parties concerned will exert effort to promote peace and stability.

China is one of the closest allies of North Korea. The Defense Ministry of South Korea said they had no intelligence on the claim of the North that they developed a hydrogen bomb. The defense ministry said it has been closely tracking all the nuclear activities of North Korea and there are no indications of unusual activities. The two Koreas are technically still at war after the conflict from 1950 to 1953 ended with a truce. North Korea has constantly threatened the destruction of South Korea and the United States.

China-based North Korean expert Zhang Liangui revealed his doubts about the ability of North Korea in developing a hydrogen bomb. He said no tests were conducted by the North prior to the claim, which makes it difficult for them to know whether it’s true. He added that the claim may have been made to pressure the international community to recognize it as a nuclear country as well as highlight its resolve to the development of nuclear weapons.

US intelligence officials revealed in April 2014 that they think North Korea has around a dozen missile-deliverable weapons. North Korea wants to be considered as nuclear weapons state in order for it to increase its weight in negotiations with the United States. The North believes a successful test will strengthen this contention.

Posted by James Fried on Friday December 11 2015, 12:07 PM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0