N.Korea changes tactics with nuclear test

Sep 04, 2017 | News On Japan

Sep 04, 2017 (NHK) - North Korea took the unusual step of announcing Sunday's nuclear test by first releasing a photo of what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb.

It was the North's 6th nuclear test conducted at a site in Punggye-ri in the country's northeast.

Pyongyang later announced through state-run media that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb that can become the warhead for an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Just 3 hours before the test, state-run Korean Central Television reported that North leader Kim Jong Un inspected the bomb at a nuclear weapons research institute. KCTV also aired a photo of a gourd-shaped metallic object.

State-run media also published reports, with pictures, that just before the test Kim and all 4 members of the politburo standing committee issued the order to carry out the test.

It's quite unusual for North Korea to release photos of what it claims is a nuclear bomb, as well as those of Kim and the politburo members making their decision before conducting a nuclear test.

North Korea says Sunday's test generated much bigger force than any other tests in the past.

South Korea's meteorological agency also estimates the bomb's blast yield at an all-time high of 50 to 60 kilotons.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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