North Korea made ‘very rapid progress’ with latest nuclear test, watchdog says

North Korea’s sixth nuclear test early this month revealed that Kim Jong Un and his secretive regime has made ”very rapid progress” in developing its weapons program, according to the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s chief.

North Korea’s latest test – on Sept. 3 – was said to have been a hydrogen bomb designed to be mounted on a newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile that has “great destructive power,” state media said.

Though the type of bomb has yet to be confirmed, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Yukiya Amano said the test shows North Korea is a global threat.

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“We do not have the capacity to determine if it’s a hydrogen bomb or not. But it is obvious that the yield is much bigger than the previous one, and it means that North Korea made a very rapid progress combined with other elements,” Amano told reporters Friday. “This is a new threat and this is a global threat.”

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have increased rapidly since the test, which led to a new round of sanctions against the North after a unanimous UN Security Council resolution.

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“What is most important for now is the international community gets united to address this grave threat,” Amano said.

Last week, South Korea warned the North may conduct another nuclear or missile test as the secretive state looks to forward its nuclear capabilities and weapons program.

The South Korean defence ministry warned parliament that the North’s nuclear test site remained “ready” for a new test, Yonhap News Agency reported.

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“(The North) will continue such provocations as additional nuclear tests and missile launches to secure its nuclear capabilities … The Punggye-ri nuclear test site remains ready for a (new) test,” the ministry said.

South Korea also said it expects the North to engage in more provocative action next month to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of its Communist party and China‘s all-important Communist Party Congress.

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In a meeting with President Moon Jae-in on Thursday, national security adviser Chung Eui-yong said he expected Pyongyang to act around Oct. 10 and 18, but gave no details.

“(Chung’s report) also said there are worries over military conflict being sparked by accidental incidents,” said Park Wan-ju, lawmaker and head spokesman of the ruling Democratic Party.

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North Korea sent an intermediate-range missile over the northern part of Japan and into the Pacific Ocean on Sept. 15, completing the country’s longest test flight of a ballistic missile.

–With files from Reuters