MIIS Experts Skeptical of North Korea Nuke Test Claim

North Korea’s announcement that it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb yesterday was met with skepticism from experts from the Middlebury Institute’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), who have been widely quoted in national and international media.

A hydrogen bomb is considerably more powerful than a conventional atomic bomb, and according to Jeffrey Lewis, director of the CNS East Asia Nonproliferation Program and Senior Research Associate Melissa Hanham, the size of the test yesterday does not support North Korean claims. Nonetheless, the nuclear weapon test and the public announcement from Pyongyang present a serious security challenge to the rest of the world. Lewis, Hanham and other CNS experts are sure to continue to be in high media demand as this story unfolds.

Media Coverage Highlights

(Regarding the Nuclear Weapons Test Announced January 5)

• Experto: “Pionyang no tiene recursos para pruebas de bombas de hidrógengo”
  
  RT Spanish — 1/7/16
  
   
• The US Isn’t Buying North Korea’s Claim of an H-Bomb Test
  
  NPR — 1/6/16
  
   
• North Korea says it tested H-bomb to widespread skepticism
  
  Associated Press — 1/6/16
  
   
• North Korea test could put missile defense back in frame despite Chinese disquiet
  
  Reuters — 1/6/16
  
   
• How North Korea’s nuclear program went from threats to reality
  
  CNN — 1/6/16
  
   
• North Korea Bomb Test Thrusts It Back into World Spotlight
  
  Wall Street Journal — 1/6/16
  
   
• Did North Korea Really Detonate a Hydrogen Bomb?
  
  HuffPost Live — 1/6/16
  
   
• North Korea says it has conducted a successful hydrogen bomb test
  
  Washington Post — 1/5/16
  
   
• North Korea says it just tested a hydrogen bomb. Here’s what we know.
  
  Vox — 1/5/16

Watch North Korea’s history of nuclear testing and the Pyonggye-ri testing site:

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