There’s No Evidence North Korea Has an H-Bomb–but NYT Knows Fear Sells Papers

[Disir]

The New York Times‘ David Sanger and Choe Sang-Hun (1/5/16) say that if North Korea’s claim to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb is true, that would “dramatically escalate the nuclear challenge from one of the world’s most isolated and dangerous states.” But they don’t say why.

Fusion-based hydrogen bombs have more explosive power than nuclear fission bombs that rely on uranium or plutonium. “If the North Korean claim about a hydrogen bomb is true, this test was of a different, and significantly more threatening, nature,” the Times reports. It’s not made clear, though, what if anything North Korea could achieve by having a bomb that could destroy a city and its suburbs rather than just a city, or how the response by the US and its allies to such a threat would be in any way different.

Nor does the Times‘ front-page story point out how unlikely it is that North Korea has, in fact, detonated a hydrogen bomb. “Detection devices around the world had picked up a 5.1 seismic event along the country’s northeast coast,” the Sanger/Sang-Hun article reported–using a number that is unlikely to mean much to many readers. A Q&A on the Times‘ website (1/6/16) does more to put the story in context:
There’s No Evidence North Korea Has an H-Bomb–but NYT Knows Fear Sells Papers

Reason number 552 NYT sucks.

 

[Arianrhod]

The New York Times‘ David Sanger and Choe Sang-Hun (1/5/16) say that if North Korea’s claim to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb is true, that would “dramatically escalate the nuclear challenge from one of the world’s most isolated and dangerous states.” But they don’t say why.

Maybe they assumed anyone familiar with the history of NK and its ruling dynasty would be able to grasp the implications of a dangerous toy in the hands of a megalomaniac.

The operative word in the sentence you quoted being "if."

 

[waltky]

Hard to imagine that Beijing will do much more than wag its finger...

Why the one country that can curb North Korea won’t
9 Jan.`16 - How do you solve a problem like Pyongyang?

There’s been a great deal of bluster and handwringing in response to North Korea’s latest nuclear test. The UN is talking of new sanctions, American lawmakers are dreaming up new punishments, South Korea is retaliating with K-Pop, and Japan is anxiously testing the air for radiation—but everyone recognizes that there’s only one country that can actually do anything about North Korea’s latest rattling of its nuclear saber. But will China, North Korea’s most important (read: sole) economic and political ally, actually curb Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang’s belligerent leader?

Washington, certainly, is hoping that Beijing will do it a solid: US secretary of state John Kerry has called on China to abandon its “business as usual” relationship with North Korea. Editorial writers agree that China must do something about its troublesome protégé. Many Chinese feel the same way. Their anger is palpable on Chinese social media sites, where Kim is being pilloried and mocked.

But although the Chinese government has condemned the nuclear test, it is hard to imagine that Beijing will to much more than wag its finger in Pyongyang’s direction. It may go along with new UN sanctions, but don’t read too much into that. China was also unhappy with North Korea’s last nuclear tests, in 2013, and expressed its displeasure by agreeing with the US on new sanctions. Within weeks, though, Beijing was breaking ranks with the international community to once again support its lonely ally.

MORE

See also:

North Korea warns of war, claims US and South 'jealous' of purported nuclear test
January 09, 2016 - North Korea warned of war Saturday as South Korea continues to blast anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the rivals’ tense border in retaliation for the North’s purported fourth nuclear test.

The South’s propaganda broadcasts drove the Korean peninsula to the brink of war in August after a brief resumption. Seoul said the two sides exchanged artillery fire in response to the broadcasts and they would eventually end them. Pyongyang says the broadcasts are tantamount to an act of war. North Korea’s top ruling party official said the broadcasts, along with talks between Washington and Seoul on the possibility of deploying U.S. warplanes capable of delivering nuclear bombs in Seoul have pushed the peninsula “toward the brink of war.” The official was speaking to a crowd at Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square.

Workers’ Party Secretary Kim Ki Nam said in comments on state TV late Friday that North Korea’s rivals are “jealous” of their successful hydrogen test. "Jealous of the successful test of our first H-bomb, the U.S. and its followers are driving the situation to the brink of war, by saying they have resumed psychological broadcasts and brought in strategic bombers," Kim said. Reuters reported state media published photos of the rally which appear to show the crowds of people holding up signs in immense support of Kim Jong Un.

South Korean troops near the broadcast sites are on the highest alert, but have yet to detect any unusual movement from the North Korean military along the border, an official from Seoul’s Defense Ministry told the Associated Press Saturday. The Yonhap news agency said Seoul had deployed missiles, artillery and other weapons systems near the border to swiftly deal with any possible North Korean provocation, but the ministry didn’t confirm those reports.

MORE

 

[Disir]

Hard to imagine that Beijing will do much more than wag its finger...

Why the one country that can curb North Korea won’t
9 Jan.`16 - How do you solve a problem like Pyongyang?

There’s been a great deal of bluster and handwringing in response to North Korea’s latest nuclear test. The UN is talking of new sanctions, American lawmakers are dreaming up new punishments, South Korea is retaliating with K-Pop, and Japan is anxiously testing the air for radiation—but everyone recognizes that there’s only one country that can actually do anything about North Korea’s latest rattling of its nuclear saber. But will China, North Korea’s most important (read: sole) economic and political ally, actually curb Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang’s belligerent leader?

Washington, certainly, is hoping that Beijing will do it a solid: US secretary of state John Kerry has called on China to abandon its “business as usual” relationship with North Korea. Editorial writers agree that China must do something about its troublesome protégé. Many Chinese feel the same way. Their anger is palpable on Chinese social media sites, where Kim is being pilloried and mocked.

But although the Chinese government has condemned the nuclear test, it is hard to imagine that Beijing will to much more than wag its finger in Pyongyang’s direction. It may go along with new UN sanctions, but don’t read too much into that. China was also unhappy with North Korea’s last nuclear tests, in 2013, and expressed its displeasure by agreeing with the US on new sanctions. Within weeks, though, Beijing was breaking ranks with the international community to once again support its lonely ally.

MORE

They are looking to justify "reunification".

 

[MarathonMike]

Perhaps we could help their Nuke development efforts by dropping an actual H-bomb where they detonated their wimpy atomic bomb. It wouldn't be nuking them, it would be providing a working example of what they want.

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - sanction the schiltz outta `em...
:grandma:
U.N. Security Council to impose new North Korea sanctions, report says
Jan. 8, 2016 - North Korea already is under multiple U.N. and U.S. sanctions.

A draft resolution under review at the United Nations Security Council includes a plan to expand asset freezes and trade embargoes targeting North Korea. The Security Council plans to work with countries including the United States to pass a resolution on additional sanctions by mid-January, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. "The U.S. has drafted a proposal and begun talks with other countries concerned," a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Friday. "We communicated the Japanese position to the [United States] before the draft was created."

Under existing Security Council resolutions, 13 North Korea individuals are already under sanctions for involvement in nuclear weapons and missile development, and 29 North Korea organizations are the target of asset freezes, Yonhap reported. North Korea already is under multiple U.N. and U.S. sanctions, but Pyongyang managed to import $2.09 billion worth of luxury merchandise into the country despite the ban. Banned exports to North Korea under U.N. sanctions include two items in the nuclear category, five items in the missile category, and one item in the chemical weapons class. The ban currently covers precious jewels, luxury automobiles and yachts – items sought after by North Korea's well-heeled elite.

North Korea deals with serious restrictions in earning foreign currency for the regime, but Pyongyang has managed to make its weapons programs a top priority. South Korean television network SBS reported Saturday local time North Korea released a new video of a submarine-launched ballistic missile. KCNA footage possibly filmed in late December showed a SLBM soaring vertically after being ejected from a submerged vessel near the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula.

U.N. Security Council to impose new North Korea sanctions, report says

See also:

North Korea threatens war over South Korean propaganda
Jan. 9, 2016 -- Revived propaganda broadcasts across the border between North and South Korea are stoking tensions between the two countries.

South Korea had originally halted the broadcasts in August after the two countries reached an agreement to diffuse tensions. But since then, two South Korean soldiers were maimed by landmine attacks. On top of that, South Korea joins the global backlash against North Korea in response to the North's purported test of a hydrogen bomb.

Officials say the irregularly scheduled broadcasts reach 6 miles into the North during the day, and 15 miles at night. They consist of anti-North Korean messages read by an announcer, but also pop music and news. The latter gives North Korea's residents -- who are largely cut off from the rest of the world -- a glimpse of life outside the impoverished nation.

Worker's Party Secretary Kim Ki Nam said the South was jealous of the North's successful hydrogen bomb test. "Jealous of the successful test of our first H-bomb, the U.S. and its followers are driving the situation to the brink of war, by saying they have resumed psychological broadcasts and brought in strategic bombers," Kim said on state TV Friday.

Yonhap reported the South has no plans to halt the broadcasts, and sees no threat of military action from the North. "We are continuing the broadcast at 10 spots on the border Saturday," a military official told the news agency. "We have not yet identified special moves by the North Korean army." The United States is working with Seoul to build international support to punish Pyongyang for this week's test.

North Korea threatens war over South Korean propaganda

 

[waltky]

Looks like dey ain't too good at puttin' drones together either...

North Korea's nuclear test ended in failure, analyst says
Jan. 12, 2016 -- North Korea may have touted a successful hydrogen bomb test, but a chorus of voices continues to suggest the experiment ended in failure.

Ji Heon-cheol, a scientist with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources in South Korea, said the 4.8 tremor that registered last Wednesday in the aftermath of Pyongyang's test was below the level recorded in 2013, when North Korea presumably tested a weapon less powerful than an H-bomb.

A North Korean solider patrols the border near the North Korean city Sinuiju, across the Yalu River from Dandong, China's largest border city with North Korea. North Korea may have touted a successful hydrogen bomb test, but a chorus of voices continues to suggest the experiment ended in failure.​

Ji said North Korea also dug an even deeper tunnel for the most recent test. By his estimates, Pyongyang drilled down as far as 770 meters. Its 2013 test, by contrast, was held 330 meters below ground. Despite the signs, the North's announcement is galvanizing South Korean military recruits, Newsis reported. A Seoul Defense Ministry official said in the aftermath of the North's announcement, more than 1,000 soldiers have voluntarily postponed their discharge date.

The official said that number is a tenfold increase from August, when tensions escalated along the Korean demilitarized zone. The Seoul official said the show of patriotism among soldiers is to be held in "high esteem," but most of the soldiers would be discharged as scheduled. Military service in the South is mandatory for men between the ages of 18 and 35. Women are allowed to enroll in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps as of 2010.

North Korea's nuclear test ended in failure, analyst says

See also:

North Korea flies drone into South Korea side of DMZ
Jan. 13, 2016 - The drone was intercepted after North Korea sent flyers across the border that included denigrating images of President Park Geun-hye.

North Korea flew a drone across the demilitarized zone Wednesday, prompting South Korean soldiers to fire warning shots at the intruding aircraft. Seoul's troops at the border identified the unmanned aerial vehicle near a front-line observatory, the BBC reported. According to South Korea military, the drone turned back after the warning shots were fired. Seoul said the drone was likely launched to map out South Korean troop positions. North Korean drones trespassed into the South's side of the DMZ several times during the high-level inter-Korea talks in August.

A North Korea-manufactured drone. Seoul’s troops at the border identified an unmanned aerial vehicle near a front line observatory​

Pyongyang also has been launching a propaganda war against Seoul, in response to the resumption of the South's loudspeaker broadcasts. South Korean outlet News 1 reported North Korea sent flyers across the border that included denigrating images of President Park Geun-hye. South Korea army and police officials said 8,000 flyers in total were sent across the border, with many depicting a skull superimposed over Park's face. The flyers warned Seoul "careless barking would lead to merciless killing," adding, "Let us slay the mad villainess in the presidential Blue House for her attacks on a unitary people."

North Korea also warned of a "Second Korean War" if tensions do not subside, South Korean newspaper Segye Ilbo reported. Pyongyang accused Seoul's military of warmongering, referring to Defense Minister Han Min-koo's visit to the Northern Limit Line off the western coast of the peninsula. During her annual press conference Wednesday, Park said future responses to the North "must differ from the past," adding China's support is critical. "I am certain that China is very well aware if such a strong will isn't followed by necessary steps, we will not be able to stop the North's fifth and sixth nuclear tests, and we cannot guarantee true peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," Park said.

North Korea flies drone into South Korea side of DMZ

 

[blastoff]

Based on NYTs shrinking circulation and ad revenue they're apparently not doing the fear thing very well either.

 

[blastoff]

Perhaps we could help their Nuke development efforts by dropping an actual H-bomb where they detonated their wimpy atomic bomb. It wouldn't be nuking them, it would be providing a working example of what they want.

Great idea. Give 'em a shot to reverse engineer it. What are friends for, huh?