North Korea conducts nuclear test
A passenger walks past a television report on North Korea's nuclear test at a railway station in Seoul.
North Korea confirmed this morning that it has successfully conducted a third nuclear test, saying it used a miniaturized device that had a greater explosive force than previous tests, the North's KCNA official news agency said.
"It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," KCNA said.
The United States, Russia and the United Nations Secretary General condemned the test.
Russia called it a violation of Pyonyang's international obligations.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was "deplorable" that Pyongyang had defied international appeals to refrain from such provocative acts.
South Korea said this was a direct challenge to the international community and an unforgivable threat to peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.
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Bill Khan
Feb 12th, 18:16
When the US was piling up its nuclear assets against the Soviet Union, the argument given was that the assets were a deterent. Now that the smaller economies are making the same nuclear bombs, the' bully' in the block gets nervous. At least the bully this time will not need to invent the lies of WMDs. North Korea will conduct the shock and awe next door not the alliance. The rogue and golliath.
R. Balzan
Feb 12th, 13:02
Having rogue, unpredictable countries like N. korea and Iran capable of launching an Electro Magnetic Pulse warhead over say, the US, Europe, Australia or wherever, is a frightening possibility. The result would be more devastating and longer-lasting than a nuclear attack bringing massive starvation, lawlessness and chaos beyond anything one can imagine.
Bill Khan
Feb 12th, 18:06
@ R. Balzan
Rest assured Mr. Balzan all will be fine. The world moved on despite the Americans dropping atomic bombs on Japanese cities and killing thousands of innocent people. We label these countries Rogue states. But they too have the right to defend themselves.We invent lies of WMDs to attack them. Let them at least invent bombs to defend themselves. We can continue to work at our lies.
Paul Zammit
Feb 12th, 12:59
I am expecting this to brew further .. and it ain't gonna be fun/funny ... real scary stuff!
Christopher Camilleri
Feb 12th, 12:37
I wonder how many nuclear tests and how much money does the Unted States spend on military research?
Besides...to criticize North Korea all the way and letting South Korea do its monthly military drills, war games and missile tests is Hypocrisy at best!
dennis camilleri
Feb 12th, 12:31
UN Middle East envoy Robert Serry told the Security Council that Jewish settlements were contrary to international law and increasingly an obstacle to peace, our correspondent says. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was "deplorable" that Pyongyang had defied international appeals to refrain from such provocative acts.So Israel defies international law and nothing happins. UN JUSTICE
W. Cassar
Feb 12th, 10:15
This is Russia's fault for being too lenient with North Korea, although it stands to win having a destabilized country in the region when its arguing with Japan at the moment.
Victor Pulis
Feb 12th, 09:54
Why doesn't Kim what is name forget war and concentrate his resources on feeding his starving millions? If his neighbour South Korea was to stop its aid he wouldn't have any one to brainwash with his ridiculous anti western propaganda.
Eve Axiaq
Feb 12th, 09:43
Dawn l-ahhar ftit snin qed jigru hafna affarjiet. Dizastri naturali aktar frekwenti, qawmien ta l-estremisti u oppressjoni fuq l-insara f'diversi pajjizi, diehla kultura fejn qisu m'ghandekx dritt turi li temmen f'Alla, gvernijiet b'qaghda imwieghra ta dejn, settur finanzjarju fejn jekk allahares jerga ifalli bank wiehed biss magguri jgib dizastru etc...
E Schembri
Feb 12th, 09:26
Russia, France, Israel, USA and the UK all have their nuclear arsenal. The US also nuked two civilian targets.
Why all the fuss now? It is obvious that emerging economies want to follow in their footsteps. After these dominant countries have given such a bad example to the entire world, you cannot now expect other countries to do otherwise.
mario delicata
Feb 12th, 09:35
Do some serious research and get updated.
bryan sullivan
Feb 12th, 10:11
are you serious or is this a joke? are you by any chance including North Korea amongst the emerging economies? it is a beggar state which is surviving on support from China and using its' scarce resources for warmongering whilst leaving its' population in abject poverty and hunger.
E Schembri
Feb 12th, 10:35
@ MArio.
What research? Are you saying that the US disposed of their nuclear arsenal? Yeah right!
Ok, I left out China, Pakistan and India, is that better?
@Bryan
What I am saying, is you cannot point fingers when you have done more of the same.
James Micallef
Feb 12th, 10:36
"Do some serious research and get updated. "
Yes, E Schembri forgot to include India and Pakistan
anton murcia
Feb 12th, 09:05
Let's hope our next minister for foreign affairs will not be the same one who made the deal during a Labour administration with the rogue North Korean regime to purchase a consignment of small arms and ammunition suited for crowd control !
Charles Busuttil
Feb 12th, 11:35
What has happened to the 'consignment of small arms and ammunition suited for crowed control!'? Was this consignment destroyed to rest the crowd's minds or is it still in the Armed Forces' arsenal?
C. Bartoli
Feb 12th, 13:28
Anton, the worst part is that he is still in the MLP ranks
twanny borg
Feb 12th, 08:20
Id-dinja hemm riesqa lejn dizastru totali tal-umanita'. Il-hajjin jghiru ghal mejtin.
Ms Marianne Mercieca
Feb 12th, 08:53
naqbel perfettament!!
mario delicata
Feb 12th, 09:38
Mass destruction of both human lives and the environment including infrastructure due to war, have been on the decline for the last 50 years. Your comments are without any solid justification.
twanny borg
Feb 12th, 10:02
Mario veru li qed tghid imma bizzejjed wahda li l-konsegwenzi taghha jkumu t-tmiem.
Please choose the reason of your report below: