What you need to know about the North Korean Nuclear Test

Описание: Greetings and salutations.

While I am on vacation, I would like to provide a quick update on the nuclear test conducted by North Korea, Wednesday morning.

First, it was expected.

While the exact date and time weren't known, the fact that the DPRK would carry out a fourth nuclear test wasn't a secret.

It has been widely known they've been capable to perform such a feat for over a year and the recent excavations at the test site telegraphed that such a test would take place. Every time the excavations are completed, a test shortly follows.

Second, on the claim it was a hydrogen bomb.

The seismic profile of the detonation is consistent with the previous nuclear test and isn't something we'd expect from an H-Bomb. Also, until radionuclides are studied. There's no real way to confirm or disprove North Korea's claim -- but remember this is the country that definitively proved unicorns existed a few years ago -- so take their statements with a grain of salt.

What may have happened, according to Joe Cirincione, is that Pyongyang may have added hydrogen to a fission bomb.

So what does this all mean?

Sadly -- business as usual.

Life in Seoul continues as normal, although everyone is acutely aware of the change in status north of the DMZ.

It also highlights the complete and utter failure of the Six-Party Talk, something even KIM Jong-UN called a failure last year.

International sanctions and condemnations, which are par for the course won't do much, if anything.

China will make its displeasure known, but it still needs North Korea as a buffer zone between it and western interests.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human RIghts Watch's Asia division released this statement:

"Kim Jong-Un may think it appropriate to celebrate his birthday early with a nuclear test, but even a hydrogen bomb should not cause the world to forget that the Kim family's hereditary dictatorship is built on the systematic brutalization and abuse of the North Korean people. The only birthday present that Kim Jong-Un should get from the international community is a one way trip to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he should be put on trial for crimes against humanity."

I mentioned this past summer that the deal reached between North and South Korea to diffuse tensions on the peninsula would do little in the long run and that it was just a matter of time before the DPRK would do something again to attract headlines.

And here we are.

This event may be the tipping point the world needs to finally get it to take the situation in Pyongyang seriously and start working on a new plan to address the issues at hand before Kim can really miniaturize a nuclear weapon and place it on a guided missile.