Russian Jet Makes Unsafe Intercept of US Aircraft; Three Women Arrested Near Paris, Accused of Planning Terror Attack
ALLEN: And welcome back. You're watching CNN Newsroom live from are Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen. Here are our top stories. Breaking news from North Korea, the country says it has tested a nuclear warhead that can be mounted on a ballistic rocket. It set off a 10 kiloton explosion. South Korea says it was quite as powerful as Pyongyang's last test in January. World leaders say this poses a serious threat. Thirty three people stranded overnight in the French Alps are being rescued. They got stuck in cable cars near Mont Blanc Thursday when two cables became crossed. Seventy seven other passengers were rescued earlier. Technicians uncrossed the cables this morning and the remaining passengers are getting back on the ground. Bet they're happy about that. Three women have been arrested near Paris, accused of planning an imminent and violent attack. The Interior Minister says they are connected to gas cylinders found earlier this week inside a car near Notre Dame Cathedral. Back to our breaking news, the nuclear test in North Korea. Lassina Zerbo joins me live via Skype from Vienna. He is executive secretary of the CTBTO, that's the watchdog group that keeps track of nuclear testing. Thanks for joining us, Mr. Zerbo. And what's your reaction to this very strong nuclear testing by the North? LASSINA ZERBO, CTBTO EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Natalie, thank you. I think it is 00.30 in the morning, our global monitoring system detected a suspicious signal in the Korean Peninsula. And since then, analysts have been on track to analyze and then give the best they could to states. And as we sum today, that we can only say that (Inaudible) than what we detected in January 16, and then all indications are that this is much bigger event than that shows the importance of North Korea progressing and becoming a nuclear power country.</s>ALLEN: Right. Five nuclear tests now. That is a significant step to it becoming nuclear powered. Isn't it?</s>ZERBO: Indeed, it confirmed the fifth tests, sending some signal to the international community. And an important step for North Korea in itself to become a nuclear power country. I think it's about time that we find a different solution that just sanction and then see how we can get them to a deal -- to nuclear testing as soon as possible.</s>ALLEN: What can we do? What does your group advocate that the world body do beyond the sanctions that unfortunately haven't been seemed to quell the motivation of Kim Jong-un?</s>ZERBO: Look, I think we've talked about sanctions for some time, but the sanction haven't been able to stop what North Korea has been doing for so far -- for so long. I mean, it started in 2006. I mean, the international committee probably took it as a joke. And then it went 2009, 2013, and 2016, this is the first time they did two tests and they announce two test in the same year. And that means that they are basically mastering the technology and then beyond the assumption, I think there's a time to open the dialogue with them firmly and get them to sit and on to discussion, a table discussion and then a moratorium amidst the testing as soon as possible.</s>ALLEN: And what countries do you think should lead that?</s>ZERBO: I think those who are directly involved with the Koreans, I think I would say those who have a relationship with Russia, with China, and then I think they've been looking into finding a way to dialogue with the United States. I think those are the three countries that can get together and then find a way to move on this issue of nuclear testing. And what I want to ask, I think we're still waiting, we're waiting for the ratification of China and the United States of the comprehensive test on treaties. I think it's important to open the dialogue to adhere to get North Korea to adhere to moratorium on nuclear testing and then get this treaty to force as soon as possible.</s>ALLEN: Why haven't these countries adhered to zero tolerance on nuclear testing?</s>ZERBO: I think that's basically what the comprehensive test on treaty organization in Vienna is working for. I think we have today 183 countries that have signed the treaty, 164 that have ratified. We have 8 remaining countries which ratification is necessary for each country to force. And among them, the United States, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Egypt and Iran. And then those are the countries that we're awaiting the ratification for us to enforce the treaty which will make nuclear testing mutually binding.</s>ALLEN: Well, certainly something more has to happen because North Korea does not seem swayed whatsoever so far. We thank you so much for joining us, Lassina Zerbo. Thank you, sir.</s>ZERBO: Thank you, Natalie.</s>ALLEN: North Korea is not the only country saber rattling with the U.S. and its allies this week. Washington says a Russian jet made an unsafe intercept of the U.S place over the Black Sea on Wednesday. Our Barbara Starr has more on this and other U.S. challenges from U.S. adversaries.</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: First reason for concern following the close encounter of a Russian jet and a U.S. Reconnaissance plane. The Russians coming within 10 feet of the U.S. aircraft.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the deck, below the bridge length.</s>STARR: Just the latest in a series of Russian provocations directed in the U.S. Military in the air and at sea this year. Defense Secretary Ash Carter warning the Russian government this week that the U.S. is watching and is ready to act.</s>ASH CARTER, U.S. DENFENSE SECRETARY: Make no mistake. We will defense our allies, the principal international order and the positive future it affords us. We were counter attempts to undermine our collective security.</s>STARR: And with Russian aggression not decreasing, some see a deliberate strategy at work.</s>CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: The fact that they are engaging the U.S. in such a dramatic fashion indicates that they are willing to challenge the U.S. at every step of the way.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bridge to bridge, we're connected, no response.</s>STARR: And Russia is hardly the only country attempting to provoke the U.S. military.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It appears to be unsafe, unprofessional.</s>STARR: Iran continues to have harassed U.S. ships with dangerous approaches like this that U.S. military officials have deemed unsafe. Some coming within 100 yards of U.S. navy vessels. In the most recent, an Iranian boat came to a dead stop in front of a U.S. navy ship risking collision. The Pentagon points out there have been 31 such encounters this year so far. Up from 23 incidents, all of last year.</s>LEIGHTON: They are telegraphing the way that they will counter U.S. Vessels. That shows that they want to challenge U.S. vessels and they are willing to do so not only in wartime, but also in peace time.</s>STARR: Each incident carries with it the risk of miscalculation. And the United States being drawn into an unintended conflict. And the stakes even higher in the Pacific where North Korea continues to test ballistic missiles often with little warning and the potential for dire consequences, weapons that maybe be able one day to reach the United States.</s>ALLEN: Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon. In the U.S. election campaign, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says her challenger's obsession with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is scary and unpatriotic. Some intelligence analysts are also concerned about the Donald Trump/Putin political love affair as Brian Todd explains.</s>BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump is gushing again over Vladimir Putin.</s>DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If he say great things about me I'm going to say great things about him.</s>TODD: Trump believes Putin called him brilliant a few months ago. Putin later said he only called Trump bright. But now, it's Trump's comment about the Russian president leadership made to NBC News which have brought serious fallout.</s>TRUMP: I mean, the man has very strong control over the country, now it's a very different system and I don't happen to like the system. But certainly in that system, he's been a leader far more than our president has been a leader.</s>TODD: Putin, the man who invaded Ukraine and its Crimea backs the brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Crushes those who oppose him inside Russia and may well be responsible for the hack of the Democratic national Committee's computers. That Vladimir Putin, Trump says, outshines President Obama. Fresh meat for Hillary Clinton.</s>HILLARY CLINTON, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is scary because it suggests he will let Putin do whatever Putin wants to do. And then make excuses for him.</s>TODD: But Trump's embrace of Putin isn't just scaring Trump's rival.</s>PHILIP MUDD, FORMER CIA ANALYST: I'm uncomfortable comparing the president of the United States to someone who has turned out to be a dictator.</s>TODD: Philip Mudd, a career intelligence analyst and executive at the CIA, FBI, and the White House National Security Council is also Trump's declaration that he'd have a very good relationship with Putin.</s>MUDD: In places like Europe, in places like Syria, And Iran, where America as critical policy interest, Putin has the interest that are at variance. For example, in Syria, he supports the continuation of the Assad regime. The Americans obviously do not.</s>TODD: By contrast, experts say, Putin believes Hillary Clinton will be more formidable.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Vladimir Putin would obviously prefer that Trump became president than Hillary Clinton mostly because he really dislikes Hillary Clinton.</s>TODD: Some believe Putin, the former KGB officer is manipulating Trump by stroking his ego. Former CIA director Michael Morell said this to ABC News.</s>MICHAEL MORELL, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: Donald Trump didn't even understand, right, that Putin was playing him. So, in Putin's mind, I have no doubt that Putin thinks that he's an unwitting agent of the Russian federation although Putin would never say that.</s>TODD: How might Putin manipulate Trump if Trump is elected?</s>MASHA GESSES, "THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE" AUTHOR: I can imagine, at least in the early stages, Putin sort of getting Trump to believe everything that he says by flattery, by taking Trump seriously, by complimenting him on his leadership ability and then being a best negotiator which he always is.</s>TODD: But analyst Masha Gessen believes that if Trump wins the presidency, a dangerous confrontation between Trump and Putin is more likely. She calls it two mentally unstable aggressive men with nuclear buttons. We reached out to the Trump campaign, they wouldn't respond directly to that or to the other criticisms of Trump's compliments of Putim. Trump himself have said that Putin's compliments of him would have, quote, "zero impact on their relationship." Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.</s>ALLEN: Next here on CNN Newsroom, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration gives a stern warning about some Samsung phones. We'll explain why.