In paula hancocks. Paula, the fifth Nuclear Test North Korea appears to have conducted and the most powerful one and coming on the heels of President Obamas visit to asia. Reporter thats right. The timing certainly is interesting, john. The fact is north korea announced on staterun television saying they successfully tested the Nuclear Warhead and they can put that on any one of the Ballistic Missiles. It is impossible for the world to verify that specifically in washington and seoul and tokyo. In the past hour, there has been an intelligence briefing for lawmakers here in seoul. They have said they believe north koreas goal is to mount a Nuclear Warhead on a scud missile. Remember 28,000 u. S. Troops in south korea are here now. This is going much quicker than expected. Intelligence says north korea has advanced quicker than expected. There is large interest around the world in china and japan and russia condemning the nuclear test. It shows that kim jongun is determined to forge ahea
Well, its big because some people say that there were ten kilotons other people say in the ten kiloton range. So the north koreans are making very fast progress. They may have a Nuclear Warhead for their short and intermediaterange missiles. Within two or three years, theyll have a warhead that can hit the United States. They also now have two launchers that can hit the United States. So the American People are now starting to be at risk. The question has always been its easy, fairly enough, to detect what theyre doing. Its been impossible to stop it thus far. Where are we in terms of understanding what leverage works . Sanctions havent worked. International condemnation hasnt worked. What do you see on the horizon . Well, we have sanctions, of course, the United States and the International Community, but those sanctions are not as tough as they could be. As assistance Secretary Of State russell says, look, our sanctions are design to bring north korea to its senses, not to its knees.