AMERICA is “moving down the track” to using an even more powerful bomb in North Korea than the one it dropped in Afghanistan, according to one weapons expert.
Dr Martin Navias, of King’s College London’s Centre for Defence Studies, said the MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast) bomb, which was used on an ISIS tunnel in Nangahar, was not the most powerful weapon in Donald Trump’s arsenal.
Aside from the MOAB bomb – the GBU-43 – nicknamed the “Mother of All Bombs”, he said another bomb, the GBU-57 – the Massive Ordnance Penetrator – was capable of even more destruction.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One, he said: “There are numerous weapons in the Americans’ arsenal that have not been used.
“There’s another weapon that’s even more interesting. We’re talking today about the GBU-43, there’s another one, the GBU-57, that’s the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, and that will be very interesting to use practically because that one goes against deepened, protected targets – that’s a bunker buster.”
[The GBU-57] will be very interesting to use practically because that one goes against deepened, protected targets – that’s a bunker buster
Dr Martin Navias
He said North Korea would be “very well aware” of the threat presented by the devastating weapon.
Dr Navias said: “Israelis always wanted it to use against the Iranians and this will be the kind of weapon that the American military will want to use against North Korean leadership and weapons of mass destruction targets.
“That [the GBU-57] has not been used but by using the 43, it’s an indication that we are moving down the track and the North Koreans must be very well aware of that.”
President Trump is reportedly looking at military options as Kim Jong-un threatens to conduct a nuclear weapons test amid escalating tensions between North Korea and the US.
US Army soldiers prepare for WAR against North KoreaFri, April 14, 2017
The US military's largest non-nuclear bomb killed dozens of Islamic State militants as it smashed their mountain hideouts, Afghan officials said April 14, ruling out any civilian casualties despite the weapon's destructive capacity. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb dubbed the 'Mother Of All Bombs' hit IS positions in Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province
GETTYA MOAB bomb test by the US army
It comes after North Korea’s state agency KCNA warned against “serious military hysteria” and said US military action in Afghanistan “could not be overlooked”.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol confirmed in an interview the country would conduct another nuclear test at any point Kim Jong-un wishes to.
He said: “If the U.S. comes with reckless military manoeuvres then we will confront it with a pre-emptive strike."
The US President is now deploying an “armada” into the Sea of Japan in response to Kim’s nuclear threat, and is reportedly assessing a number of military options.
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