Boom! Small Blast Shocks the World

By Muath Bishawi

On the same day that South Korea’s foreign minister Ban Ki-Moon was formally nominated to hold the seat of the new UN secretary-general, South Korea made an announcement that surprised the world. In Hwaderi near Kiliju city, at approximately 10:36 a.m., South Korea’s state geology research center detected a 3.58 magnitude artificial earthquake, which North Korea claimed to be a blast from a nuclear test.

Shortly after, an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council was convened, and a condemnation to North Korea’s claim of the nuclear test has been issued by Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, and the EU. Some of the International condemnation came from North Korea’s so-called allies like China, which called the act a “flagrant and brazen” violation of international opinion. Chinese officials also stated that they “firmly oppose” North Korea’s action.

Currently, the US will attempt to push for a Security Council resolution against North Korea’s violation of Chapter 7 of the UN charter dealing with “acts of aggression”, and “threats to peace”. US intelligent officials are currently working on verifying North Korea’s claims, as motioned by president Bush during his speech against these updates. “[T]he proclaimed actions taken by North Korea are unacceptable and deserve an immediate response by the United Nations Security Council” Bush stated. When asked, North Korea’s ambassador to the UN, Pak Kil-yon announced that the development of nuclear weapons will “contribute to defending the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in the area around it”. He also added, the world should “congratulate” Korean Scientists, rather than “issuing such notorious, useless and reckless resolutions”.