On Jan. 6, North Korea conducted its fourth underground nuclear weapons test explosion. The government in Pyongyang claims it conducted a successful test that “scientifically verified the power” of a small hydrogen bomb. The statement claims that the test signifies a “higher stage” of development of North Korea’s nuclear force.
Initial readings from seismic stations in the region, however, strongly suggest the yield of the blast was slightly smaller than the February 2013 nuclear test. According to the Vienna-based Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the “initial location estimate” of the seismic activity shows that the event took place in the area of North Korea’s nuclear test site, Punggye-ri, which is located in the northeast of the country. The test has been universally condemned as a threat to international peace and security and a violation of the global taboo against nuclear testing.
Read more on the fourth North Korean nuclear test from the Arms Control Association...
Key statements on North Korea's Jan. 6 nuclear test explosion:
Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization Media Stakeout (video)
Security Council Press Statement on Nuclear Test Conducted by Democratic People's Republic of Korea
United Nations Security Council Japanese Representative Motohide Yoshikawa (video)
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Yukiya Amano
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom
Secretary of State of the United States of America