The Fallout From North Korea’s Purported ‘Hydrogen Bomb’ Test

The Fallout From North Korea’s Purported ‘Hydrogen Bomb’ Test
A TV news program showing North Korea's announcement of a hydrogen bomb test, Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 6, 2016 (AP photo by Ahn Young-joon).

North Korea claimed Wednesday that it tested a hydrogen bomb, which it referred to as an “H-bomb of justice.” The test prompted condemnation from across the globe, including Japan, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and NATO. But Pyongyang’s announcement was also met with widespread skepticism; the seismological data from the test are comparable to the test of a smaller atomic device.

South Korea immediately responded to the nuclear test, saying it will cooperate with the international community to ensure that North Korea pays the price. President Park Geun-hye added that there would be a stern response if there were any further provocations from Pyongyang.

While North Korea said the test was in response to U.S. hostilities, many observers believe it is actually a response to worsening relations with China. “In a way, this is a protest against Beijing,” Bo Zhiyue, director of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre at the Victoria University of Wellington, told the Washington Post. “They are saying: ‘We can do whatever we want. This shows our independence, and we don’t need your approval.’”

Keep reading for free!

Get instant access to the rest of this article by submitting your email address below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having a personal curator and expert analyst of global affairs news. Subscribe now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • Regular in-depth articles with deep dives into important issues and countries.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.
  • The Weekly Review email, with quick summaries of the week’s most important coverage, and what’s to come.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you when you subscribe today.

More World Politics Review