North Korea Conducts Most Powerful Nuclear Test Yet

North Korea conducted their third, and largest, nuclear test today, in a move that has provoked neighboring China and the rest of the world. Here’s an English translation of the announcement North Korean’s heard today:

“The scientific field for National Defense has succeeded in the third underground nuclear test at a site in the north part of our country on February 12th, 2013. It was confirmed that the nuclear test was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than used previously. It did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment.”

This time last year Jim Schoff was working for the Pentagon,  specializing  in East Asia policy, and involved in what became known as the “Leap Date Deal.”  He’s now a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.