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North Korea Angers World With Latest Nuclear Test; African Startup: Chocolate Clothing Line; German Women Report Being Attacked on New Year's Eve. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 06, 2016 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:14] LYNDA KINKADE, HOST: Condemnation around the world and some skepticism after claims North Korea detonated a hydrogen bomb. We're
live in Beijing for regional reaction, and we'll go live to the United Nations where the security council is holding an emergency meeting.
Also ahead, rising tensions: the row between Saudi Arabia and Iran threatens not just relations between those two countries, but with other
nations in the Middle East. A live report from Riyadh coming up.
And a story of these life jackets, symbols the magnitude of the migrant crisis in Europe, just one reminder of the scale of the challenge. That
story later in the show.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is Connect the World.
KINKADE: Hello. I'm Lynda Kinkade. And this is Connect the World. At this hour the United Nations security council is meeting behind closed
doors to discuss North Korea's claims it tested a hydrogen bomb.
The U.S. and Japan called for this session as world powers, including North Korea's longtime ally China publicly condemned the move.
The alleged test is said to have happened in North Korea's border with China. And if true, it would be the most powerful nuclear weapon
Pyongyang has ever tested.
Paula Hancocks reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kim Jong-un signs the order for nuclear test number four, a handwritten note from North
Korea's leader saying the country is, quote, "starting the year with exciting noise of the first hydrogen bomb."
If this is true, it would signal a huge jump in the country's nuclear capability, a hydrogen device far more powerful than previous atomic
bombs.
But South Korea's defense ministry says it would be difficult to believe it was hydrogen, according to Yonhap News Agency. Officials say it
could be days before they know for sure, but some say they may never be 100 percent certain.
Condemnation from around the world has been swift. China, one of North Korea's few allies, says it opposes the test saying it did not have
prior knowledge of it.
South Korea's president, Kark Geun-hye calls it a provocation, which threatens people's lives.
PARK GUEN-HYE, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It is important
to take stern measures with the UN security council and international community with the United States and our allies.
HANCOCKS: The United States, Japan, the UK and others, adding to the condemnation, South Korea's military is on alert, North and South Korea
are still technically at war. A peace treaty was never signed after the korean
War.
A United Nations security council meeting has been called Wednesday. Previous nuclear tests have been met with sanctions.
JASPER KIM, PROFESSOR: It can apply sanctions, It can condemn verbally and point fingers, but as we've seen before, North Korea doesn't respond
to that.
HANCOCKS: North Korean observers say that what Pyongyang really wants is a conversation with Washington and recognition of its nuclear power
status, a recognition which the U.S. has said it will never give.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDOETAPE)
KINKADE: Here's what we know about North Korea's nuclear capability. Experts believe the north has enough plutonium for about four to eight
nuclear warheads. It's unknown how many nuclear devices the regime has assembled beyond those its tested. North Korea has an arsenal of short
and medium range missiles and is working on longer range ballistic weapons.
The North did say a successful rocket launch in 2012, placing a satellite into orbit, but experts are unsure North Korea has the
technology to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile and to target a missile effectively.
Let's take you straight to the United Nations now. CNN's Richard Roth is there. And this emergency meeting, Richard, was requested by the
U.S. and Japan.
What has been said so far?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, large contingent of press is asking questions of ambassadors as they walk in. The Chinese ambassador
barraged with what are you going to do about this, said look, have some patience. It's not likely we're going to hear much more from him when
he comes out. That's just the China way here at the UN.
The British ambassador is going in. We were also told by one diplomat representing on the security council that, look, they're going to
discuss a wide range of options behind closed doors. And an appropriate response
according to this diplomat might be the widening of sanctions.
However, we all know that North Korea has been hit hard by many sanctions through multiple UN security council resolutions over the
years and whether it's a nuclear test or missile launches, the violations keep coming.
Right now they're behind closed doors, the early start of this emergency meeting -- Lynda.
KINKADE: And clearly, obviously, China is one of the closest allies of North
Korea. Is it likely that the UN will call on China to help push sanctions forward?
[11:05:04] ROTH: Well, it depends on how grave a threat to the region China may take this latest test, whatever kind. Just the -- just -- in
December the UN held only its second security council meeting on North Korea, officially putting the human rights situation there on the table
and China strongly defended Pyongyang saying that the UN security council should not be interfering in another member country's affairs.
Now, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon he about an hour ago held an emergency meeting of his own with his senior North Korea topic advisers,
somewhere here in the UN building. And at that session the secretary general said he was
shocked by what happened. The whole world is shocked. And he later commented to
reporters on the North Korea action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAN KI-MOON, UN SECRETARY-GENERAL: I condemn it unequivocally. I demand the DPRK cease any further nuclear activities and meet its
obligations for verifiable denuclearization. We are monitoring and assessing developments in close
coordination with the concerned international organizations including the CTBTO, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Event Treaty Organization and
interested parties.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD ROTH: The UN secretary general beginning his final year in office. He's a former South Korean foreign minister, and he was
supposed to meet with the North Koreans last year at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, but the North Koreans at the last minute canceled
that session.
Ban Ki-moon in his final year would love to be able to visit the north to
discuss peace options. Don't know if that's going to happen.
Lynda, back to you.
KINKADE: OK. Richard Roth at the United Nations. We will come back to you when there is an update on that meeting.
Well, we are tracking all angles of this story on Connect the World. North Korean expert, Victor Char (ph) joins me in just a few minutes.
He told The new York Times that the test should be taken very seriously despite doubts about the hydrogen bomb claim.
Plus, North Korea's nuclear activities have sparked alarm in the past and triggered punishing sanctions. We'll look back at the country's
long running drive to build up its arsenal.
Well, now to the growing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In the latest move, Jordan says it's summoned the Iranian ambassador over the
attack on Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran.
It comes after a number of countries downgraded ties with Iran in the past few days.
The Saudi embassy in Tehran was ransacked over the weekend after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his concern over the turmoil.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Unfortunately, our actions and the steps we have taken have not been met
by an acceptable response from our neighbors in Saudi Arabia. This trend to
create tension and escalate tension needs to stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: For more on this story, our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is in Riyadh. Nic, many countries have taken sides along
sectarian divides. Jordan now the latest to weigh in.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. The Jordanians have called in the Iranian ambassador to essentially tell him that it's
not good enough that the Saudi embassy was attacked over the weekend, that the Iranians have an obligation under international law really to
protect the embassy or any embassy in their territory.
What we're really hearing in the region of the moment is an amplification of the sectarian tensions that have been growing over the
past few years. There are many reasons behind that, but the concern is that as this, you know, rhetoric ramps
up, that there could be a further misunderstanding between these countries and a further escalation.
And of course deescalating the tensions right now is what the international community is really interested in doing and not just
because they don't want to see a larger conflagration here, but the outcome of getting peace in Syria depends on the relationship between
Saudi Arabia and Iran.
So there's a lot at stake here right now.
KINKADE: And speaking of those escalations, Iran of course is blaming Saudi Arabia for the increase in tensions. You spoke to a Saudi
official from the interior ministry. What did he tell you?
ROBERTSON: Well, I was talking to him about al-Nimr, the Shia cleric who was executed at the weekend. He described how this man was
inspiring terrorist activities by a group of people in a small town in the east of the country. He said just in the past couple of days, the
group that he inspired in that town stole a digger, a large mechanical digger, tried to dig up the road to cut that town off from the rest of
the country. They tried to keep the police out from there. This is a continuing situation where tensions continue to exist.
But when I spoke to him about Iran's involvement behind this cleric and about the sectarian nature that this is conflict and the discussion
around it is taking. In the case of this particular town, he really sort of backed away from coloring it in a sectarian way. This is what
he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:10:26] MAJ. GEN. MANSOUR AL-TURKI, SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: We have this group of people who were led actually by Nimr
al-Nimr, taking advantage of these farms, trying to, you know, threaten everybody. Just a way of they're trying to control the city.
ROBERTSON: Is this a Shia terrorist group that you're facing?
AL-TURKI: I do want to relate this to our Shia or Sunni or whatsoever, we look at this the same as we look at ISIS and as much as we look at al
Qaeda. This is all to us a terrorist activities, whether it was linked to al-Qaeda, linked to ISIS or linked to this group.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So what he says about this particular town is that, you know, the police could go in really hard, really heavy and take on this group.
But he said if that happens and there's going to be collateral damage, there's going to be civilian casualties, they can't do that.
So what they do is he says they work by their police work, by intelligence work and then bring people in on that basis.
But it's very clear that tensions in that town continue to exist and that this town continues to be a problem for the authorities here, a
problem they don't want to spread, and they seem to be cautious about not amplifying internally at least sectarian differences and divisions.
KINKADE: And, Nic, the U.S. is of course trying to bring both Saudi Arabia and Iran together for some dialogue. Does the U.S. wield much
influence in this case?
ROBERTSON: I would say at the moment it's diminishing. Absolutely they do wield some influence, but Saudi Arabia has really realized over the
past few years that it needs to look to itself and its regional allies for their own security in
the Middle East. So they can't rely on the United States as an ally to come in to support them, let's say, as they did when Saddam Hussein in
Iraq invaded Kuwait in the summer of 1990. The United States put together a huge coalition to come and support Saudi Arabia, based it
here, pushed the Iraqis out of Kuwait.
The relationship has really changed a lot in the past 25 years on that basis. So while the United States needs the support of Saudi Arabia,
needs the support of Iran, as well to get a peace deal on Syria, and that's important, their ability to influence here in Saudi Arabia I
would say is significantly less than it was than over the past couple of decades, Lynda.
KINKADE: OK. Nic Robertson in Riyadh, thanks for following all those developments for us. We will talk to you soon.
Well, we'll turn now to North Korea's reported test of a hydrogen bomb. Coming up, many experts are casting doubt on saying the explosion was
too small to come from a hydrogen bomb.
Georgetown University's Victor Cha is my guest.
And later, more victims come forward after a spade of violent attacks against women in German cities on New Year's Eve. The latest on the
police investigations in about 20 minutes from now. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:52] KINKADE: You're watching CNN and this is Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Turning to the United States now, and President Barack Obama has made an impassioned call for a sense of urgency as he sidesteps lawmakers and announced new
executive action in a bid to reign in gun violence.
Speaking through tears, Mr. Obama defended the new included measures including expanded background checks at gun shows. And he spoke about
what motivates him. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And from every family who never imagined that their loved one would be taken from our lives by a
bullet from a gun. Every time I think about those kids it gets me mad. And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: But Republicans have been blasting the plans and are planning to throw up legal and political hurdles to putting them in place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R) TEXAS: I can tell you right now those executive orders are not worth the paper they're printed on, because when you live
by the pen, you die by the pen. And my pen has got an eraser.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R) FLORIDA: Gun violence is committed by criminals, and criminals don't care what the law is. They violate it. That's why
they're criminals. So, he's obsessed with undermining the second amendment. He's obsessed with burdening law-abiding citizens who are
going to follow the law no matter what it is. If he is serious about gun violence, he would be focused on violence, on what it is that's
happening in our culture that's leading people to commit violent acts, not laws that will do nothing to prevent gun violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: And the response from America's most prominent gun rights organization, the National Rifle Association is blunt. "The American
people do not need more emotional condescending lectures that are completely devoid of facts. President Obama's proposals would not have
prevented any of the horrific events he mentioned. The timing of this announcement demonstrates not only political exploitation but a
fundamental lack of seriousness."
And you can join CNN for a special look at guns in America with U.S. President Barack Obama. Anderson Cooper hosts an exclusive one-hour
live town hall event. You can see it Thursday night at 8:00 in Washington, that's
1:00 a.m. Friday in London, and 9:00 Friday morning in Hong Kong, only on CNN.
Well, now to efforts to identify the masked ISIS killer seen in a new video threatening the UK. It turns out he may be a former toy salesman
whose name came up in Tuesday's Britain's Parliament. Brian Todd reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From behind a mask he gloats, threatens, insults Britain's prime minister calling him an imbecile.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How strange it is that a leader of a small island threatens us with a handful of planes. One would have thought you'd
have learned the lessons of your pathetic master in Washington.
TODD: An execution video, which shocked England and appears to present a new version of Jihadi John, the British militant Muhammad Emwazi who
was killed in a drone strike.
British Home Secretary Theresa May will not confirm the name of the newly seen accented British militant in the latest ISIS propaganda
video, but British media are reporting that authorities there are investigating whether
it's this man, Siddartha Dhar.
UNIDENIFIED MALE: Embrace Islam.
TODD: British news outlets report he's in his early 30s from a London suburb, originally Hindu who converted to Islam. They reported he once
sold inflatable bounce houses for children.
Dhar's name came up several times during a British parliamentary debate. The home secretary, grilled about how Dhar reportedly had been in the
British government's custody, but eventually fled to Syria.
ANDY BURNHAM, SHADOW HOME SECRETARY, LABOUR PARTY: The reports concerning Mr. Siddhartha Dhar. He was well known to the arrested six
times on terror related offenses before being placed on police bail in 2014 and requested to surrender his passport. It was when he failed to
comply with those bail conditions that it's emerged he had absconded.
TODD: British media reports say Dhar was suspected of being involved in a group which al-Muhajaroon (ph), which has been banned in Britain.
[11:20:13] RAFFAELLO PANTUCCI, ROYAL LIMITED SERVICES INSTITUTE: These individuals are involved in protests, they're involved in doing
organizing road shows and stalls around the country, they're constantly appearing in the media, they're constantly attracting attention to
themselves.
And I think some of the attention they were drawing to themselves seem to be them actively supporting terrorist organizations.
TODD: In a 2015 guide to the Islamic State, a man believed to be Dhar writes
about the items available to ISIS fighters, quote, "Snickers, Kit Kat, Bounty, Twix, yes, yes, we have it all."
CNN interviewed Siddhartha Dhar in 2011 when he praised Osama bin Laden shortly after his death.
SIDDHARTHA DHAR: When 9/11 did occur, it forced me to inquire about who this person was, what his message was about. And I realized this man he
was someone who stands up for the truth.
TODD: Now, Siddhartha Dhar could be filling a crucial void for ISIS left by the original Jihadi John.
DAVEED GARTENSTEIN-ROSS, FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: They're a propaganda piece, which among other things, shows that we have someone
from your ranks, someone who was raised in your society, who speaks perfect English, who can speak to your audiences, and now they're on our
side.
TODD: But Siddhartha Dhar the man in the ISIS video? Members of Dhar's family in Britain, interviewed by news organizations there first said
they thought it was his voice but then said they weren't sure.
British officials are being very tight-lipped saying they are thoroughly analyzing the video.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our top story this hour, what could be North Korea's fourth nuclear test? Pyongyang says it tested its first hydrogen bomb on
Tuesday. The claim is spreading alarm among North Korea's neighbors and the UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting at this hour.
But officials and analysts are expressing doubts about the test. They say the amount of energy produced by the explosion was too small to be
caused by a hydrogen bomb.
I'm joined now from Washington by Victor Cha. He holds the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and is the
director of government and international affairs at Georgetown University.
Thank you so much for being with us.
VICTOR CHA, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: My pleasure.
KINKADE: And now, Mr. Cha, there is a lot of skepticism about whether North Korea actually has the capability of launching a hydrogen bomb.
If it is true, how significant is it?
CHA: Well, if it is true, it would mean that they have effectively moved from a crude plutonium program, which they started about 25 years
ago, to really the second generation of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology moving from a fission device to a fusion device, which is
exponentially more powerful. But the verdict's still out on that. We don't know for sure based on the readings, the Richter scales in the
area, whether this was truly a hydrogen bomb or a thermonuclear test.
KINKADE: Now, Mr. Cha, you served as director for Asian Affairs at the White House on the national security council. They have put out a
statement, their spokesman Ned Price said, and I quote, "North Korea has conducted its first nuclear tests in 2006 and until today has done so
twice since, but we have consistently made it clear that we will not accept it as a nuclear state."
Can you explain why it won't accept North Korea as a nuclear state?
CHA: well, i think THAT if the United States or any of the other members of the international community formally recognize North Korea as
a nuclear weapons state, it would essentially be a huge blow to the nonproliferation treaty regime,
because North Korea is probably the worst violator of the NPT regime, and if countries were to acknowledge that they are ere now a nuclear
weapons state, it would effectively show that they have violated successfully the regime and violated in spite of the fact that there
have been three UN security council resolutions and a whole battery of sanctions on North Korea.
So I think that's why the United States does not want to recognize North Korea.
Also, North Korea wants to be sitting with the United States negotiating arms control as an established nuclear weapons state like the United
States did with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. That's their ultimate objective. And of course that is not the U.S. objective. The
U.S. wants North Korea to engage in negotiation to denuclearize, to get ride of their nuclear weapons. So I think for these two reasons it's
hard for the NSE to acknowledge that North Korea is a nuclear weapons state.
KINKADE: So, even though it doesn't acknowledge it, they are talking about what other sanctions they can put in place right now.
Some skeptics, though, believe that this wasn't a hydrogen bomb. In your opinion, does it matter what type of nuclear bomb it was? Clearly
they're moving ahead with the development of nuclear weapons.
CHA: Yeah, Lynda, I think that's the main point. I mean, there will be a scientific and academic debate about whether it was a hydrogen device
or not. I think the bigger and more important point is that they are improving their programs. They've gone, again, from a crude plutonium
program to a uranium program, and now talk of a fusion device, which is a big step, a big important step in terms of advancement of capability.
So the main message I think for policy is that North Korea is not simply happy with just having a couple of nuclear weapons. It wants to build a
survivable and modern and lethal nuclear weapons force.
And they're about the worst regime in the world that's trying to do this. So that is not a very good picture for the United States or for
other countries in the world.
KINKADE: And just finally, many said that China is key to any sanctions that would matter to North Korea. What can we expect from China?
CHA: It's a good question. I think all eyes will be on China. I think that they will support whatever action the UN security council takes in
the coming week. But the real question will be, two weeks, three weeks, a month later, you know, how vigilant will China be in terms of
enforcing sanctions, in terms of embargoing trade with North Korea, in terms of carefully watching shipments coming out of
North Korea through Chinese ports or Chinese air space. These are going to be the big questions.
And thus far, the Chinese record in this regard has not been stellar. It's been quite bad. And that is one of the reasons why North Korea has
been able to advance its capabilities.
KINKADE: Victor Cha, we appreciate your perspective on all of this. Thank you so much for joining us.
CHA: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, still ahead, from a one-man show to a growing business, we speak to a budding designer who wants to take his work Accra to the
global fashion stage. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMIR DAFTARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In a modest workshop in downtown Accra, amid whirling sewing machines and discarded fabric,
Kwaku Bediako talks grand design.
Recognized as one of Ghana's best young designers, he's already dressed the country's national football team. Now, Kwaku plans to take his
chocolate clothing line global.
KWAKU BEDIAKO, FOUNDER, CHOCOLATE CLOTHING LINE: (inaudible), we wanted to build an empire.
DAFTARI: At the heart of this fledgling empire, it's Kwaku's attention to detail.
Every garment is unique, every client gets the personal touch, including me.
BEDIAKO: So, normally we get -- white chocolate, no other name but chocolate. And we keep on saying that we want to make clothes worth
craving for. So, we want people to crave you, you know, when you walk around.
DAFTARI: I like the sound of that.
BEDIAKO: Oh, man, what is he wearing.
DAFTARI: His company is still growing, but growing fast. In three years, he's gone from a one-man operation to a small fashion house
capable of handling 1,000 orders a month.
BEDIAKO: Every one is different. Our design is key. We don't repeat the same renditions. Branding is very key. That's what a lot of people
take for granted.
DAFTARI: Tell me, what do you prefer, the design and fashion side, or the business side?
BEDIAKO: I'm sorry, I think my love is with the arts. Business, for me, it just has to make sense, you know, it has to make sense enough for
people who believe in our vision to also realize the benefits.
[11:30:09] DAFTARI: As with all good fashion, it's all about attitude. And Kwaku is already thinking like am major player.
BEDIAKO: We're competing with Giorgio Armani, you're competing with Prada. I think it's a mindset game.
Physically, we are not there now. But mentally we are there.
Hey, come over, man. Come over, come over.
DAFTARI: Dressed to impress, Kwaku's work on me is done.
BEDIAKO: I love it. I love it.
DAFTARI: One thing is for sure, though, Kwaku's clothes have a much better chance of reaching the world's top cat walks than I do.
Amir Daftari, CNN, Accra.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
KINKADE: North Korea's claim that it tested a hygrogen bomb has drawn widespread condemnation, but this isn't the first time the reclusive
nation has caused alarm with its nuclear tests.
Our Will Ripley has a look at the rise of North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: August 1998, supreme leader Kim Jong-un is just 15 years old when his father, the late leader Kim Jong-il, fires
a multi-stage rocket over Japan, demonstrating North Korea's frightening potential to develop rockets that reach around the region.
Then this, October 2006, North Korea announces its first underground nuclear test, joining the small group of nations that possess nuclear
weapons.
[11:35:13] GEORGE H.W. BUSH, 43RD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States condemns this provocative act.
RIPLEY: The UN slaps crippling sanctions on an already struggling regime. But North Korea forges ahead, claiming nukes are its only
lifeline, protection from the U.S. government, which it says, is hellbent on toppling the regime.
In 2007, Pyongyang agrees to halt its nuclear ambitions in exchange for international aid. But it is short-lived, and the program resumes.
December 2012, in spite of UN resolutions condemning rocket launches, North Korea fires what it calls a peaceful satellite into space.
Increased sanctions stoked the North's anger further.
State media announcing a third nuclear test in February 2013. With each test, North Korea gains valuable new knowledge in weaponizing its
nuclear technology.
In May, another bombshell. North Korea claiming it has miniaturized nuclear weapons, warheads small enough to put on a missile.
DWIGHT ALBRIGHT, FORMER UN WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I think this situation is very dangerous. There's no constraints on his program. And North Korea
seems determined to built up its nuclear arsenal.
RIPLEY: North Korea also seems determined to develop rocket technology, despite the sanctions, including recent upgrades to its Sohae launch
site.
U.S. intelligence believes the facility has an underground rail line, movable building and a cover over the launchpad, all designed to hide
activity from prying eyes in the sky.
But North Korean space scientists we met in September told us their purpose is peaceful.
"Our launch is no threat to the U.S.," said this researcher speaking to us outside Pyongyang's new satellite control center.
What can you say to the world to prove that this is not a ballistic missile program in disguise?
"Why on earth would we have any intention of trying to drop nuclear bombs on the people of the world, including the United States," said the
director of scientific research and development.
But North Korea's own state media boasts a growing nuclear arsenal and willingness to strike if provoked.
This latest escalation leaves many wondering just how far is North Korea and its unpredictable young leader willing to go.
Will Ripley, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our Matt Rivers joins me now from Beijing. And Matt, North Korea we know sometimes exaggerates its progress. There is skepticism
about whether it has the capability to launch a hydrogen bomb. How long could it be before we know whether it's true?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPNODENT: Well, it could be several days before that scientific evidence could be gathered and collected to determine
what kind of test was conducted here.
There is a lot of skepticism based around what we're hearing in part from experts and from some South Korean lawmakers. Their skepticism is
based, in part, because of the size of the explosion as a result of this test. With a hydrogen bomb being tested, because it's so much more
powerful than an atom bomb, or atomic bomb, you would expect an explosion to be much more intense. But the levels that were read would
suggest that perhaps this explosion wasn't as big as you would see with a hydrogen bomb, that's something we've heard from South Korean
lawmakers briefed by its intelligence agency as well as independent experts that have weighed in on this.
But really the only way to tell definitively is to do it scientifically, and Japan is one of the countries that's trying to determine what kind
of test was conducted here. They actually launched a couple of airplanes to take air samples in the area, evidence that they'll use to
try and make a determination of exactly what was -- what kind of test was conducted.
KINKADE: And Matt, looking at the timing of all of this, the economy in North Korea, we know, is not going too well, and a lot of people within
the regime, some say more than 100 people, have been killed or have gone missing. Is the North Korean leader trying to show strength? What is
his motivation?
RIVERS: Well, it's anyone's guess. It's basically just speculation as to the timing of all of this. It doesn't really seem to line up with
any one particular thing.
One thing that is lined up here is that it is King Jong-un's birthday later this week. That is a major event in North Korea every year
celebrating the supreme leader's birthday. And so perhaps he's trying to show strength ahead of that.
There's also major political events set for May in North Korea. And so perhaps he's trying to garner support amidst some of that chaos that you
just talked about. Perhaps he's trying to show strength before that.
And then there's also -- this is really North Korea's one big bargaining chip with the rest of the world. They don't really have much else
leverage in terms of diplomatic relations with other countries. And so as we've seen in the past, North Korea does this to -- this kind of
saber rattling to perhaps bring countries like the United States to the table when it comes to negotiating things like international
humanitarian aid.
[11:40:18] KINKADE: OK. Matt Rivers in Beijing, thank you very much.
Well, there's still a lot more on this story and its ramifications on our website. You can go to cnn.com for our latest reporting as well as
analysis and opinion pieces, including our article that answers seven key questions about this latest move by North Korea.
If you're wondering about the timing or motivation of this test or the difference between an atomic bomb and a hydrogen bomb, you can check out
this piece online. That's only at CNN.com.
Well, now to a worrying development out of Germany. Police say more than 150 criminal complaints have been filed in cities across the
country after a spate of violent assaults on women on New Year's Eve.
Most of the incidents took place in Cologne. Atika Shubert has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New Year's Eve at the Cathedral Square in Colongne, Germany has always been
a rowdy scene, a fireworks free for all. But police now report dozens of women were sexually assaulted and robbed in the chaos.
Police say victims described the perpetrators as small gangs of, quote, "Arab or North African men."
"The men surrounded us. They touched us everywhere. I wanted to take my friend and 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.
"I thought the whole time in the crowd they could kill us or rape us and nobody would notice. Nobody noticed and nobody helped us. I just wanted
to get out."
Other women agreed, saying there was no one to help them.
"We ran to the police but we saw the police were so under staffed they couldn't take care of us, and we, as women, paid the price."
But Tuesday morning, the headlines blared that a, quote, "sex mob" of Arab members attacked local women.
In a nationally broadcast press conference, Germany's justice minister said the scale of the attacks may constitute a, quote, "new dimension of
organized crime," but cautioned against jumping to go conclusions.
HEIKO MAAS, GERMAN JUSTICE MINISTER (through translation): During these investigations, it will become clear which circle of perpetrators is
involved. Making this an issue to over simplifications 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.
SHUBERT: Police have so far recorded 90 criminal incidents, a quarter of which were sexual assaults. One rape was reported. At the time, there
were roughly a thousand people in total at the square. Not all were perpetrators.
Police say many of the assaults were likely distraction techniques. The real aim was pick-pocketing, mostly mobile phones and tablets.
Police are still investigating, combing through surveillance video of the area. But the assaults play straight into public fears that the
influx of refugees would also bring a crime wave, fueling right wing criticism of Germany's open-door policy towards refugees.
Local residents gathered in angry protests at the site of the attacks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): What happened here is terrible, but at the same time, not everybody who was here in this
square should be incriminated. That is not acceptable, either. The perpetrators must be caught and brought to justice.
SHUBERT: Fear, anger and suspicion. The country is straining under the influx of nearly a million refugees, a tinder box that won't take much
to catch fire.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Live from CNN's world headquarters, this is Connect the World. We will have more on Europe's refugee crisis just ahead. And we'll show
you why this image on a small Greek island symbolizes the enormous challenge the continent is facing. A stark reminder of the scale of the
problem, that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:46:32] ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator: How can we deal with the refugee crisis in a way so that Europe will be
strengthened? At the moment, we have different behaviors within member states in the European Union. We need to reduce refugees. We need to
tackle the causes why refugees flee. We need also make sure that those who have no asylums granted sent back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: German Chancellor Angela Merkel there in her country's approach to the huge numbers of people seeking refugee status.
She spoke amid protests over a spate of New Year's Eve attacks in German cities, many of which were sexual assaults. Police said victims
described the attack as gangs of Arab or North African men.
You're watching CNN, and this is Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Well, the end of last month saw a somber milestone for Europe as it tries to cope with its new arrivals. The number of asylum seekers and
economic migrants entering Europe in 2015 topped 1 million: 1,005,504 people to be exact. That includes those coming by both land and sea in
2015 according to the International Organization for Migration, that's more than four times the number of arrivals in 2014.
Well, the vast majority, more than 800,000 people, have landed in Greece, but many don't make it. They leave knowing there's a chance
they will perish trying to cross the Mediterranean. Just this week, there were more grim scenes
on a Turkish beach, adding to the toll of migrants who have drowned on their dangerous
journey.
We will have a story for you on that, but first a warning, some of the images in this piece are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: It's an all-too familiar scene along Turkey's coastline, the bodies of migrants washing up along the shore.
Here on the Aegean coast, rescuers remove bodies of at least 24 migrants, including three children, after several boats capsized while
trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos.
The International Organization of Migration says 2015 was the deadliest year on record for migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe by sea.
3,771 people lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean.
Migration officials warn that poor weather conditions are not stopping the flow of migrants.
JOE MILLMAN, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION SPOKESMAN: Migrants and refugees continue to enter Greece at a rate of over 2,500 a
day from Turkey, which is very close to the average through December. So we see the migrant flows are continuing through the winter and
obviously the fatalities are continuing as well.
KINKADE: And the cycle continues as many thousands make the dangerous journey, authorities risk their own lives trying to save them.
Turkey has increased its police presence on the shoreline, and its coast guard waits at the ready.
The United Nations says more than 1 million migrants entered Europe last year by sea. There's no end in sight to the crisis as desperate
migrants take the ultimate risk in the hope of a better life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: And as you heard, a small Greek island has found itself at the center of Europe's refugee crisis. One stark image from Lesbos
captures the magnitude of the crisis and illustrates the sheer numbers that continue to arrive on the island daily despite the cost of the
crossing from Turkey, not to mention the dangers.
Take a look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:52:06] KINKADE: One of China's poorest regions is now home to one of
the nation's largest statues. This gigantic golden statue of communist leader Mao stands 36 meters high. the statue is made of steel and
concrete and decorated with gold paint.
Construction began last march in central Henan (ph) in central China and costs around $460,000.
You're watching CNN and this is Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Astronaut Scott Kelly living on board the International Space Station has taken some beautiful abstract photos of the Earth, calling them
Earth art on social media.
Among his most recent, this colorful shot of Africa posted on January 4.
And this one of a desert landscape over Egypt from December 29.
On December 17, the blues and greens really came through over China.
And on December 1, some stunning purples and reds coming from Australia.
As Scott Kelly says, Earth without art is just Earth.
Now to our parting shots. Star Wars: The Force Awakens continues to rake in money at the box office. We want to introduce you to the man
behind the iconic stormtrooper helmets.
Andrew Ainsworth made them after meeting George Lucas some 40 years ago. The London engineer says sales of his helmets jumped tenfold in the run-
up to the latest film.
Interestingly, though, they are barred from sale in the U.S. Nick Glass explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK GLASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not so long ago, not, it should be said, in a galaxy far, far away, something menacing emerged out of the
whiteness and just kept on coming: a production line of Star Wars stormtroopers.
And the proud Englishman stood on a patch of grass in the London suburbs and showed us his gleaming helmet.
This is the guy who fought George Lucas in the British courts and won.
How many courts did you have to go through?
ANDREW AINSWORTH, DESIGNER: Three.
GLASS: Namely.
AINSWORTH: The high court, the appeal court and then the supreme court.
GLASS: And you won every time?
AINSWORTH: We won every time.
GLASS: and Aimsworth still has the same workshop he had when he helped on Star Wars, precisely 40 years ago.
George Lucas was in pre-production on the first movie at Elstree STudios, an hour or so away, and wanted props quickly.
Ainsworth was given two small graphic images to work from.
AINSWORTH: Oh, they were lovely. For someone like me, that's more than enough information to just -- I made in two days the helmet.
GLASS: Two days?
AINSWORTH: Two days, yes, from sculpting the molds and making the molding process work and getting, you know, moldings off -- because you
add to one to one mold and then subtract from another mold.
[11:55:06] GLASS: This is Ainsworth's original metal resin mold from 1976. And for almost 30 years, he forgot about it until he needed money
for school fees, made a few more helmets and sold them.
George Lucas promptly sued him.
AINSWORTH: Because we honestly believed nobody can stop you being the artist that you are. They can't take it away from you. They can't cut
your hands off and say you can't use them anymore. It was that ridiculous to us. It's a no-brainer, isn't it? You have to defend it.
GLASS: The case lasted nine long years. Ainsworth has only just paid off his huge legal bill.
How much was it?
AINSWORTH: I would rather not say, but it was an awful lot.
GLASS: Hundreds of thousands or millions?
AINSWORTH: Millions.
GLASS: The British ruling was that the helmet was a piece of industrial design and so out of copyright, so production could resume.
With the new Star Wars movie out, demand has increased at least tenfold and Ainsworth is finally about to make some money.
Back in '76, 20 guid a helmet.
AINSWORTH: Yeah.
GLASS: And now?
AINSWORTH: We sell them for $500, the originals, but we have a copy at $200.
GLASS: Did you ever imagine it would turn out like this?
AINSWORTH: No. Of course I didn't.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: And he's going to have to sell a lot more helmets to recoup the costs of that legal case.
You can always follow this story as the team is working on throughout the day by going to our Facebook page, that's at
Facebook.com/cnnconnect.
And you can get in touch on Twitter. You can tweet me @lyndakinkade.
That was Connect the World, and I am Lynda Kinkade. Thanks so much for watching.
END
