North Korea Claims H-Bomb Test, South Detects Artificial Tremors

The North Korean government has claimed to have successfully tested its first Hydrogen bomb in Juche, Korea.

In an announcement by the DPRK government, it said, “the first H-bomb test was successfully conducted in Juche Koreaat 10:00 on Wednesday, pursuant to the strategic determination of the Worker’s Party of Korea (WPK).”

Earlier in the day, South Korean media reported that an earthquake occurred in North Korea near a site previously used for nuclear tests. The reports indicated that the tremors were artificial which meant DPRK had carried out a new nuclear test.

An artificial earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was detected close to Punggye-ri. The UN organisation monitoring the world for signs of nuclear testing confirmed it had detected “an unusual event in the Korean peninsula”, but some experts have cautioned that claims of a hydrogen bomb could be exaggerated, the Guardian news daily reported.

The South Korean Defense Ministry has increased vigilance and combat readiness of the armed forces, Yonhap news agency reported.

"North Korea's provocation is in clear violation of Security Council resolutions and a serious challenge to international peace and security," Lim Sung-nam, South Korea's first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs was quoted by the Yonhap news agency as saying.

The South Korean Defense Ministry "increased vigilance and combat readiness of the armed forces," the Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea’s vice defense minister was quoted as saying by Sky News that it is difficult to believe that the nuclear device tested by North Korea was an H-bomb.

“North Korea’s claimed hydrogen bomb test is an “unacceptable violation” of Un resolutions,” the French Presidency was quoted as saying by AFP.

According to the a report by People’s Daily, China, the matter needs further analysis before believing DPRK’s claims as the Data received so far cannot support H-bomb test.

US Department of Defense stated in a statement that Washington will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state and will respond appropriately.

''North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and, until today, has done so twice since, but we have consistently made clear that we will not accept it as a nuclear state,''US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said.

''We will continue to protect and defend our allies in the region, including the Republic of Korea, and will respond appropriately to any and all North Korean provocations,'' he added.

The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said any test would be a “grave breach” of UN resolutions and “a provocation which I condemn without reservation”.

“So far as I think any of us can tell, there is no reason to doubt what the North Koreans are claiming: that they have carried out a test detonation of an H-bomb,” Hammond was quoted as saying by the Guardian news daily.

Even if the claim by DPRK on conducting the test is fake, it is a direct violation of the pyongyang of the spirit of the treaty on the nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT).

"The North Korean nuclear program is being implemented by the state, having a common border with Russia. From Pyongyang, Vladivostok is less than 700 km. And actions of the DPRK in this area directly affects the national security of our country," Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev was quoted as saying by Tass.

According to Kosachev, Russia is doing everything it can to the document has been signed and ratified by all nuclear countries, but a special responsibility to prevent the North Korean nuclear threat lies with Washington.

"It will be interesting to see the behavior of the United States. This is the case when they are - really a special responsibility and a unique opportunity to show leadership and start. Start with yourself", he said.