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Agence France-Presse

North Korea held a mass celebration for the scientists involved in carrying out its largest nuclear blast to date, with fireworks and a mass rally in Pyongyang.
Citizens of the capital lined the streets Wednesday to wave pink and purple pom-poms and cheer a convoy of buses carrying the specialists into the city, and toss confetti over them as they walked into Kim Il-sung Square.
“We offer the greatest honour to Comrade Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader who brought us the greatest achievement in the history of the Korean people,” read one banner in the plaza, where tens of thousands of people were gathered.
Another, with a picture of a missile on a caterpillar-tracked transporter, proclaimed: “No one can stop us on our road to the future.”

The blast triggered global condemnation and calls by the US, South Korea, Japan and others for stronger United Nations Security Council sanctions against the North.
The official Korean Central News Agency described it as a “successful ICBM-ready H-bomb test”.
Speakers at the rally said the North’s military “will put an end to the destiny of the gangster-like US imperialists through the most merciless and strongest pre-emptive strikes if they and the hordes of traitors finally ignite a war”, KCNA reported.

Sunday’s blast was the North’s sixth nuclear detonation and by far its biggest to date.
Hydrogen bombs, or H-bombs, are thermonuclear weapons far more powerful than ordinary fission-based atomic bombs, and use a nuclear blast to generate the intense temperatures required for fusion to take place.


Foreign governments have yet to confirm whether Sunday’s blast was a full two-stage thermonuclear weapon, or an enhanced fission device.
Working out its size depends on factors including the magnitude of the earthquake generated, the depth at which it was buried, and the type of rock surrounding it.
Estimates vary from South Korea’s 50 kilotons to Japan’s 160. But all of them are far larger than the 15-kiloton US bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945.

North Korea in July carried out its first two successful tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), apparently bringing much of the US mainland into range.
Seoul and Washington early Thursday deployed four more launchers in the South for the THAAD missile defence system, whose presence has infuriated Beijing.
The move was part of measures to defend the South from the North, Seoul’s defence ministry said.


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North Korea nuclear crisis

North Korea celebrates nuclear test with fireworks and massive rally

Fireworks light up the Pyongyang sky at a celebration rally for its recent hydrogen bomb test. Photo: AFP

This September 6, 2017 picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 7, 2017 shows Pyongyang residents greeting arrival of contributors to the test of a hydrogen bomb for ICBM in Pyongyang. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIS KNS / STR / - South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. /

This September 6, 2017 picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 7, 2017 shows fireworks displaying while Pyongyang residents and military people holding a celebration rally on the test of a hydrogen bomb for ICBM at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIS KNS / STR / - South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. /

This September 6, 2017 picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 7, 2017 shows Pyongyang residents and military people holding a celebration rally on the test of a hydrogen bomb for ICBM at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIS KNS / STR / - South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. /

South Korea installs four more US THAAD launchers to counter missile threat from North

Beijing objects to deployment in South Korea of an advanced US missile defence system that has a radar that can see deep into Chinese territory

(170907) -- SEOUL, Sept. 7, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Elements of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interception system arrive in Seongju, South Korea, on Sept. 7, 2017. Seoul's defense ministry said the remaining THAAD elements and other construction equipment would be delivered to the former golf course at Soseong-ri village in Seongju county, North Gyeongsang province within Thursday, and thousands of policemen violently dispersed peace activists and residents living near the site of the THAAD missile defense system.  (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) (zcc)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and South Korean President Moon Jae In hold talks on Sept. 7, 2017, in Vladivostok, amid the increased threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

South Korea on Thursday installed four additional advanced US missile defence launchers to better insure against the escalating threat from North Korea. Photo: AP

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Sunday’s blast was the North’s sixth nuclear detonation and by far its biggest to date


North Korea sanctions

North Korea celebrates nuclear test with fireworks and massive rally

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sunday’s blast was the North’s sixth nuclear detonation and by far its biggest to date

Sunday’s blast was the North’s sixth nuclear detonation and by far its biggest to date