North Korean carried out it’s third official nuclear test this morning occurring at 02.57 am causing a minor earthquake according to USGS. The test had been expected by the world community but it still sent shockwaves out across the world, especially as last month North Korea sent a rocket into orbit. Tensions are mounting again on the Korean peninsular as Kim Jung Un flexes his muscles as supreme leader.
This latest test happened as Pluto was just one degree from the midpoint of Saturn and Mars. On the North Korean chart 9/9/48 Pyongyang at 12.39 (rectified by Jamie Partridge), Neptune this morning was almost exactly square to the Ascendant and natal Moon which rules the NK 8th house of underground secrets and trine to Mars, a military test of hardware shrouded in mystery. Remember transiting Mars is still within orb of Neptune and was probably the trigger to get things moving in approving the timing of this test.
Transiting Jupiter is opposing that Ascendant and Moon conjunction and trine to Mercury bringing a triumphant announcement to the people of the nation. Transiting Pluto is square the rather neurotic Mercury/Neptune conjunction in the 10th house of the leadership, a link to the nuclear ambitions of this one party state. In another trigger for this test, transiting Venus which natally sits in the 8th house of financial dealings with other countries was opposite natal Pluto in the 9th house of international affairs. I wonder if North Korea and Kin are trying to use the nuclear option as a bargaining tool to get international finance, something that North Korea on the quiet desperately needs, as it is ostensibly very poor in economic terms?
Pyongyang says there may be more tests to follow. If they do carry another test out, I think there could be one as close as 22nd February, as Mars begins to oppose the NK Sun and Midheaven, and makes an inconjunct aspect to the North Korean Pluto.
