Satellite imagery shows increased activity at North Korea's Mount Mantap nuclear testing area, leading experts to predict that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its sixth nuclear weapons test. The likely date for the test is Saturday or Sunday, during celebrations to mark the 105th birthday of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. Based on the amount of debris and water excavated from the testing tunnel, burrowed deep under the mile-high mountain, this could be Pyongyang's biggest nuclear test yet.
U.S. scientists at Los Alamos have calculated that Mount Mantap could withstand a nuclear blast of up to 282 kilotons, The New York Times says, or about 20 times the strength of the Hiroshima explosion. North Korea's previous tests have been within the Hiroshima range. Kim has said his goal is to make a thermonuclear warhead small enough to fit on a missile that could reach the United States. President Trump recently sent a U.S. Navy strike group, with an aircraft carrier and other warships, toward the Korean Peninsula as a warning to Pyongyang, and on Wednesday he said he thinks China is ready to help the U.S. curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
How would we know if World War Three had started?Today's Big Question With conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, the 'spark' that could ignite all-out war 'already exists'
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostagesSpeed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 yearsSpeed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for UkraineSpeed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawaterSpeed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
