New Delhi :
The world on Thursday woke up to reports of a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in North Korea which knitted several leader’s brow. Why? Because, the quake was not a normal phenomenon but was triggered by North Korea’s attempts of successfully carrying out its first hydrogen bomb test.
The move, which was already hinted by leader Kim Jong-Un, has earned widespread condemnation from across the world.
Agreed, that the nuclear age is 70 years old but the potential consequences of North Korea upping its nuclear game from a basic atomic bomb to a hydrogen bomb has caught the world's attention.
A Hydrogen bomb is a much more powerful atomic weapon and the energy released in a Hydrogen bomb is several magnitudes higher than an Atom bomb. Hydrogen bombs can devastate whole cities in one explosion.
Please note that Hydrogen bomb derives its energy through the fusion of atoms while an Atom bomb derives its energy from fission.
Hydrogen Fusion vs Nuclear Fission
There is a minute difference between the two but lethal of course. Fusion and fission are different types of reactions that release energy. In fission, an atom is split into two or more smaller, lighter atoms. Fusion, in contrast, occurs when two or more atoms fuse together, creating a larger, heavier atom. Hydrogen bombs use the fusion of hydrogen atoms, hence its name.
A fusion bomb requires a much higher temperature and a fission is carried out first to produce more energy, which is then used to initiate fusion. In a fusion bomb, a fission device has to be triggered first. This means that it is easier to make Hydrogen bombs in small size which can be placed in missiles.
Basically, it's two bombs in one and that that is why they're called thermonuclear weapons.
Global Facts
Atomic bombs were used in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki and till date Hydrogen bombs have never been used in war. Although there have been times when the world seemed to be on the brink. The Cuban missile crisis in the 1960s is just one example.
Notably, North Korea has already tested three atom bombs and this was the fourth one.
The nuclear arsenals of the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China are made up of these types of weapons (Hydrogen bomb).
India and Pakistan are believed to have atomic bombs. It is understood that the world powers posses 10,000 to 15,000 nuclear warheads.
One must note that North Korea is the only nation to have conducted any nuclear tests since 1999, with tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and this year. India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998.
Why today’s test is scary?
Today, North Korea confirmed that it has successfully tested a miniaturized H-bomb which raises concerns in world fraternity as the country has missiles capable of striking South Korea, Japan and U.S. military bases in the region.
It seems the world is sitting on a ticking bomb- Tick-tock-tick!
