U.S. Reacts to Hydrogen Bomb Test by North Korea
The U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter received an update Thursday from the commander of U.S. Pacific Command about recent events on the Korean Peninsula, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.
North Korea claimed Wednesday to have conducted a successful hydrogen bomb test.
Hydrogen bomb or H-bomb is a new-generation thermonuclear weapon which is considered much more lethal than a conventional nuclear bomb. It is believed that a single explosion of a Hydrogen bomb can destroy a whole city.
Meanwhile, the head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano said that if the nuclear test is confirmed, it is in clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and is “deeply regrettable.”
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Discussions between Carter and Navy Adm. Harry Harris included “North Korea’s latest provocative act, as well as steps to further our military-to-military dialogue with allies in the region,” Cook said.
The United States, he added, is committed to the defense of its close ally South Korea.
“We’re there every day in South Korea,” he said. “There are more than 28,000 U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula right now. We stand resolutely with our South Korean allies, our commitment to them is ironclad, and we will do everything we can to ensure their defense.”
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Carter spoke to his South Korean counterpart Wednesday, Cook noted.
“The government has concluded that a nuclear test took place, but we’re still assessing new information we’ve received at this point in time,” he said.
“Officials hope to receive more information that might give them a better understanding of exactly what took place in North Korea, he said. “Our analysis again indicates that it’s not consistent with the North Korean claims of a hydrogen bomb test,” Cook said.
