Transcripts For CNNW Amanpour 20160106 : vimarsana.com

We begin with breaking news and global condemnation after north korea says it conducted a successful test of a Hydrogen Nuclear bomb. South koreas president says this test is a clear provocation. These are photographs of north Korean Leader signing the order. If the claim is true, this marks a significant advancement for a country which has only tested less powerful plutonium weapons. The United Nations security counselor will hold an emergency meeting in a few hours. It could take several days to determine whether or not this test was successful as north korea claims. Paula hancock is in seoul with more. North korean tv has broadcast the pictures of him signing the orders for the nuclear test. Theyre eager to promote this, clearly, but we dont know if this is a Hydrogen Bomb. What do we know so far about this . Reporter well. What weve heard so far from north korea they say about six or seven hours ago they carried out this, what they call a successful hydrogen test. As you said, we dont know whether or not it was a Hydrogen Bomb. Weve been hearing from one Government Institute here at the Korean Institute of government staft, that the radio active material would have blown east to the sea of japan or the east sea. So itll take at least two days for them to collect that material and then to analyze it. Even then, they say, it may not be that they can give a definitive answer whether or not it was a Hydrogen Bomb. As far as pyongyang is concerned, they say it was and successful. And the photo with the north Korean Leader was signing the order for this to go ahead on january third, according to north korean state media. It says he issued the order back in december the 15th, just a few days after he publicly admitted they had the h bomb, the claim which, at the time, many analysts queried and said was highly unlikely that they could have made such a significant jump in Nuclear Capability. At this point, its yet to be confirmed whether or not this was a Hydrogen Nuclear test, but the fact that this test went ahead is leading to expected Swift International condemnation. Meetings across the region are ongoing. We know right now here in south korea, seoul, there is the head of the u. S. Forces in korea, and also the u. S. Ambassador to south korea, and the south Korean Foreign minister to discuss whats happened. Yet to confirm if this is indeed a Hydrogen Bomb. How do they go about confirming this, and if it is, and we dont know for sure, how significant would that be . Reporter there are a number of ways they can determine what kind of bomb it was. The way the immensity of the explosion, the kilotons given up, and in the case of a Hydrogen Bomb, it would be a significant level. But we dont know what kind of underground casing the North Koreans have. We know theyve been working in the site in the northeast of the country the last couple of years since 2014. The experts that will be analyzing any Scientific Data that comes in, they simply dont know the conditions on the ground, so that will make it extremely difficult to ascertain whether or not it was a Hydrogen Bomb, but you would assume they would have some kind of an idea as to whether or not it could be that, because it is so much more powerful than an atomic bomb. The three Previous Nuclear tests, plutonium, and then the 2013, neither plutonium or uranium wasnt ascertained. It would be a significant increase in capability if they have managed to pull this off. Pyongyang has been very clear that they have trying to push their Nuclear Program forward. Theyve blamed the United States for this. Theyve used the United States as justification for this program. In fact, the announcement this morning at north korea time was that this was in defense against the United States, saying that if the u. S. Does not violate north koreas sovereignty, we will not use nuclear weapons, but if it is a Hydrogen Bomb, its a huge jump in capability, but its a huge if at this point. It is, and paula keeping us up to date from seoul in south korea. Well check back in with you next hour. Lets show you some of the reaction to this. The u. S. Is denouncing koreas claim. There was a statement released. Part of it says we will not accept north korea as a nuclear state. We will continue to protect and defend our allies in the region, including the republican of korea, and will respond appropriately to any and all north korean provocations. Now, in the meantime, japan is vowing to join forces with the allies to take a stand against north korea for the nuclear test. The Prime Minister went on National Television wednesday. Translator the nuclear test is a serious threat to our nations security and cannot be tolera tolerated. We strongly denounce it. Heres what we know about north Koreas Nuclear capability. Experts believe the north has enough plutonium for about four to eight Nuclear Warheads. Its unknown how many Nuclear Warheads its assembled. North korea has an arsenal of short and Medium Range Missiles and is working on longer range weapons. The north did stage a rocket launch in 2012 that it said played a satellite into orbit, but experts are unsure if they have the technology to mount one on a missile and to target a missile effectively. Lets bring in mike from hong kong. Its a senior fellow with the u. S. China institute at the university of southern california, ucs, also the author of melt down, the inside story of the north Korean Nuclear crisis. Thanks for staying with us as we continue to cover this breaking news. The reaction and condemnation from regional powers as we just showed you, that would e expect bid the north. So would additional sanctions. Why is north korea doing this now . What does kim jongun gain . We weve seen a situation where nart koreans are forcing to react to them. This fits a pattern of north korean behavior weve watched over many years. Having an enhanced Nuclear Capability has been a central theme of kim jonguns rule. Its one of the key principles guiding his regime, and the north has been making it very clear that that was the direction they were going to go. Kim himself spoke about having a Hydrogen Bomb a few weeks ago. So its not altogether surprising that they would take this test. Partly if the north looks around the region, based on what weve seen happen after the Previous Nuclear tests, my guess is the north calculated, whatever the fallout, it can withstand it. So far theres no evidence that sarngss enacted after previous tests had any impact in terms of changing north koreas behavior. The north knows the United States and south korea are not going to start a war over this, and china, even though beijing is certain to be fur use at the North Koreans is unlikely to take the kind of really harsh steps that would compel a change in north korean behavior. So the north probably calculates this gives it leverage if theres any diplomatic activity that follows, and its in the drivers seat in every other country in the region as to how to react. Do expect the norths relationship will stay the same with north korea . This alleged h bomb test could be seen as an insult to efforts on north koreas behalf. How is that relationship likely to change after this, if at all, do you think . Well, this nuclear test is really a slap in the face to china. Beijing shifted its approach to north korea in recent months. Before then china had been somewhat more critical and stand offish toward the north. In the past new months a top official visited pyongyang. The chinese, evidently made a calculation that being more friendly to the north would improve beijings leverage and encourage north korea to shy away from further provocative steps. Clearly that approach didnt work. So north korea is essentially poking china in the eye, and for the chinese president , its an insult. China will be upset. At the end of the day when the chinese look at the korean peninsula, whats more worry somethan if north korea has nuclear weapons, is collapse in china. Therefore they are not going to take the kinds of step that would inflict a enough pain on north korea to prompt pyongyang to change behavior. At the end of the day, it will be business as usual. It makes you wonder if previous sanctions and efforts havent changed north koreas behavior, what would. Mike joining us from hong kong, senior fellow with the u. S. China institute at ucs. Thanks for your time. Still to come, the u. S. President gets personal. Every time i think about those kids, it gets me mad. Speaking act massacred School Children as he makes his case for executive action on gun control. Also coming up, irans president lashes out at saudi arabia for cutting ties with tehran. Well take you live for the latest on that. Tting the best price on this . Well match any competitors price. What about this . Price match guarantee. And this . Yep so no monkey business, no tomfoolery . Oh, we do have tom foolery, tom. Staples has a price match guarantee. Make low prices happen. Staples make more happen. I think when people hear about i think its important for, everyone to know that there is so much more to memory support than the stigmas you hearabout. That these residents still have lives and their lives still matter and that they are still living their lives. That theyre not locked away and that they still have a lot to live for, you know, that they have people that care about them and they have people that love them and i love them, so their lives still matter. That is what i do this for. singing alougetting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me. Is someone getting to know your credit . Not without your say so. Credit lock lets you lock and unlock your transunion Credit Report with the swipe of a finger. Getting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Get onetouch credit lock, plus your score and report at transunion. Com. Get in the know. As you may know, barack obama unveiled his plan to reign in gun violence. He announced executive actions at an emotional ceremony. At one point he teared up as he described the string of gun massacred that seem to have become common in the United States. Jim acosta has the details. Reporter it was, perhaps, the most emotional speech president obama has ever given in office. First embracing the crowd of mass shooting victims in their families on hand. Then openly crying as he made the case can for new executive actions on gun control. From first graders in newtown. Reporter the president wiped away tears as he recalled what hes described as his saddest day in office. The slaughter of 20 first graders and six adults in a shooting. Every time i think about those kids, it gets me mad. And by the way, it happens on the streets of chicago every day. [ applause ] reporter under the president s new executive actions a warning to nearly all gun sellers to conduct background checks. Plus new agents, 500 million for Mental Health care. To hammer home the argument, the president was joined by the father of a child who died at sandy hook. As a nation, we have to do better. We are better. Were better than this. Reporter and a former congressman who was nearly killed by a shooter five years ago. Her husband is now a leader of victims families. Its almost like youre a community of people now. We are, for i mean, you know, unbelievable devastating circumstances. So its not a community that people want to belong to. Just leave it at that. You dont want to be invited into that club. Reporter the executive action stopped short of a law mandating universal background checks. The president blamed the nra and the republicans in congress for that. Reporter the gun lobby cannot hold america hostage. The nra said the proposed executive actions are ripe for abuse by the obama administration. And speaker spaul ryan said rather than focus on criminals and terrorists, the president goes after lawabiding citizens. Its a form of intimidation that undermines liberty. Hes obsessed with undermining the second amendment. Reporter the white house says thats pure politics. I believe in the second amendment. Its there, written on the paper. It guarantees a right to bear arms. No matter how many times people try to twist my words around. Reporter much of the president s ability to enforce these new actions depends on Congress Spending the money to hire new investigators at the atf and fbi. Republicans have said the president should enforce the existing gun laws. And lawmakers saw they have chance to do just that. Jim acosta, the white house. And later this hour, well have more reaction to mr. Obamas plan. Well hear from the father of a young victim of gun violence. We want to turn to tensions in the middle east. Irans president is lashing out at saudi arabia over its execution of a shiite cleric. He says the saudi government cannot hide its, quote, great crime by severing ties with tehran. The execution spurred protests across the middle east and similar diplomatic action by neighboring nations. Kuwait recalled its am bass sba to tehran. We are joined now live from saudi arabia. Nick, more countries are aligning with saudi arabia on this. Wheres it all going and what efforts are underway to try to deescalate the tensions between iran and saudi arabia . Reporter well, theres certainly International Pressure on both countries to deescalate both from the u. N. , the United States, of course, feeling how this might impact upcoming talks on syria. Theyre supposed to begin in january. Weve heard from the saudi ambassador to the u. N. That he says this wont effect saudi arabias participation in those talks. Theyll come regardless of whatever irans position is. The reality is once you get inside the room, saudi arabia and the allies and we saw them meet here in late december, if essentially hardened their position toward whatever iranses a separations are in syria. We know theyre to keep Bashar Al Assad in power. The diplomatic political impasse to try to get a Peace Agreement in syria is made more difficult. Theres no indication things are deescalating all right. We certainly had problems there, and we just lost nick robertson. Well try to get him. If we dont this hour, well talk to him next hour. Germanys chancellor is expressing anger over what she calls disgusting assaults and talks that happened during new years investigations. Police are nvlgting dozens of complaints over immigration. Atika schubert reports. Reporter new years eve in germany has always been a rowdy party scene. The police now report that dozens of women were sexually assaulted and robbed in the chaos. Police say victims described the prerp pay or thes as small gangs of arab or north african men. The men surrounded us and started to touch our crotches. They touched us everywhere. I wanted to leave. I turned around and in that moment, someone grabbed my bag. Only identifying herself as linda, this victim says she is too scared to go out alone, and still has nightmares. Translator i thought the whole time in the crowd they could kill us or rape us and no one would notice. Nobody noticed and nobody helped us. I just wanted to get out. Reporter other women agreed saying there was no one to help them. Translator we ran to the police, but we saw the police were so understaffed. They couldnt take care of us, and we as women paid the price. Reporter by Tuesday Morning the headlines blared that a section mob of arab men. Germa germanys Justice Minister said the scale and nature of the attacks may constitute a new dimension of organized crime but cautioned against jumping to conclusions. Translator during these investigations, it will become clearer which circle of perpetrators is involved. Making this an issue through oversimplifications and connecting it to the issue of refugees is nothing more than misuse of the debate. Now, it is about determining the facts and drawing the necessary conclusions. Reporter police have so far recorded 90 criminal incidents. One rape was reported. At the time there were roughly 1,000 people in total at the square. Not all were prerp traitors. The real aim was pickpockets, mostly mobile phones and tablets. Police are combing through Surveillance Video of the area. But the results play into public fears that the influx of refugees would also bring a crime wave, fueling right wing criticism of the open door policy toward refugees. Local residents gathered in protest at the site of the attacks. Translator what happened here is terrible, but at the same time, not everybody who was here in this square should be incriminated. Thats not acceptable either. The perpetrators must be caught and brought to justice. Reporter fear, anger, and suspicious. The country is already straining under the influx of nearly one million refugees. A tinderbox that wont take much to catch fire. Two Major League Baseball players are suing al jazeera america. Ryan howard and Ryan Zimmerman filed the suit tuesday. They accused the network of de defamation after they were mentioned about performance enhancing drugs. Theyre seeking monetary damages and a retraction. It also claims Peyton Mannings wife received a banned substance. Manning is considering legal action. When we continue, well have more for you on the breaking news out of north korea and reaction to its announcement of the nuclear test. Plus reaction to the u. S. President s new push for gun control. We will hear from the father of a young shooting victim. cell phone rings where are you . Well the squirrels are back in the attic. Mom . Your dad wont call an exterminator. Can i call you back, mom . He says its personal this time. If youre a mom, you call at the worst time. Its what you do. If you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. Its what you do. Where are you . Its very loud there. Are you taking a zumba class . singing alougetting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me. Is someone getting to know your credit . Not without your say so. Credit lock lets you lock and unlock your transunion Credit Report with the swipe of a finger. Getting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Get onetouch credit lock, plus your score and report at transunion. Com get in the know. Youre watching cnn newsroom. Thanks for staying with us. Im errol barnett. And im rosemary church. We want to update you on a breaking news story. In north korea says it successfully exploded a Hydrogen Bomb in an underground test. The u. S. Says the claim may take days to verify. And people are meeting in seoul, and the allies have all condemned the testing. A Hydrogen Bomb is more powerful than anything the country has tested before if this turns out to be true. Now, earlier we spoke with a former u. S. Ambassador to north korea. He says the World Community must find a way to slow down the norths nuclear ambitions. Im not sure saying were going to respond with strategic patience is going to get us very far. I think what were going to have to do is there will be a discussion in the u. N. And an effort to tighten sanctions, and i think further efforts with china and other countries, and i hope there will be some understanding that we have to somehow retard this program in the way that we did with the iranian program, and so i think were going to have to really think very hard about what to do, because we cant just leave this one alone. I think the real issue is we need to find ways to make sure that program doesnt move forward as quickly as its been moving, and there are a number of ways to do that. Technical issues. Its very sort of edge of your skis tough measures, but i dont think we can just let this thing continue to grow, because if they really exploded a hydrogen weapon, that is a very serious matter, and theyre clearly getting close to putting it on missile. Lets bring in will ripley who joins us live from beijing, and youve been to pyongyang many times. They always claim these tests are for peaceful purposes, but today the north says this is a defensive move. Whats the message theyre trying to send