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| File photo shows North Korean soldiers parading
through Kim Il Sung Square with their missiles and
rockets during a mass military parade in the
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Pyongyang says it has successfully conducted a
hydrogen bomb test, hours after seismologists
detected an artificial earthquake close to the
country's main atomic test site northeast of North
Korea.
"The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been
successfully performed at 10:00 a.m. (0130 GMT)
on January 6, 2016, based on the strategic
determination of the Workers' Party," North Korea’s
state-owned broadcaster, KCTV, reported on
Wednesday.
"With the perfect success of our historic H-bomb,
we have joined the rank of advanced nuclear
states," it added, noting that the test was of a
"miniaturized" device.
North Korea's state news agency later stressed in a
statement that Pyongyang will continue to build up
its nuclear program as deterrence against potential
aggression from the United States.
The statement further underscored that North Korea
will act as a responsible nuclear state, and will use
its nuclear armament only to defend its sovereignty.
North Korea also vowed that it will not transfer its
nuclear capabilities to other parties.
The hydrogen bomb test was apparently ordered by
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un himself, and
came just two days before his birthday.
The US Geological Survey had reported an artificial
earthquake earlier on Wednesday, saying that the
epicenter of the quake was some 50 kilometers (30
miles) northwest of Kilju city, which serves as the
seat of North Hamgyong Province, and next to the
Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
Japan strongly condemns North Korea nuclear test
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
vowed on Wednesday that Tokyo does not tolerate
Pyongyang’s nuclear tests.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ©AFP
Stressing that Japan will give an adequate response
to North Korea’s latest experiment, Abe described
the move as a threat to his country’s security.
South Korea to penalize North over nuclear test
In a separate development, the South Korean
government denounced the North’s nuclear test,
while pledging to take “all necessary measures” to
punish its neighbor.
“We strongly condemn that North Korea carried out
a fourth nuclear test in clear violation of UN Security
Council resolutions, despite repeated warnings from
us and the international community,” a government
statement read.
The statement added, “We will take all necessary
measures including additional sanctions by the UN
Security Council... so that the North will pay the
price for the nuclear test.”
US threatens Pyongyang with appropriate response
Additionally, the White House said it will continue to
protect and defend its interests and those of its
allies in East Asia, and will act in response to
North Korea’s provocations.
“…we condemn any violation of UNSC (United
Nations Security Council) resolutions and again call
on North Korea to abide by its international
obligations and commitments," White House
National Security Council spokesman, Ned Price,
said in a statement.
This picture shows relative strength of North
Korea’s nuclear tests in comparison to nuclear
bombs used by the US military to attack Japanese
cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of
World War II.
Meanwhile, the US State Department also
condemned the test as violation of UN resolutions,
calling on North Korea to abide by its obligations
and commitments.
UN Security Council to discuss North Korea’s
nuclear test
The United Nations Security Council is expected to
hold an emergency meeting on North Korea’s
nuclear test at 1600 GMT on Wednesday.
Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity late
on Tuesday, three Security Council diplomats said
the meeting would likely be held behind closed
doors.
File photo shows a session of the United Nations
Security Council as participants are voting on a
Security Council resolution. ©AFP
Another council diplomat said the United States and
Japan jointly requested the urgent council meeting.
They did not explain what action, if any, the 15-
nation council was planning to take in response to
the North Korea’s statement that it has conducted a
fourth nuclear test.
China evacuates border residents after Pyongyang's
nuclear test
Chinese border residents have been reportedly
evacuated from buildings after feeling tremors from
North Korea's nuclear test on Wednesday, China
Central Television (CCTV) reported.
People near the frontier with North Korea "clearly
felt tremors" on Wednesday morning after
Pyongyang announced that it had detonated a
hydrogen bomb, CCTV added.
The areas included Yanji, Hunchun and Changbai in
Jilin Province, which are among Chinese counties
closest to the North's nuclear test site.
Residents in Yanji saw desks and chairs shake for
several seconds and some companies evacuated
employees from their offices, the report said.
North Korea is under UN sanctions over launching
missiles considered by the US and South Korea as
ballistic and aimed at delivering nuclear warheads,
but Pyongyang says its numerous missile tests
seek to boost its defense capabilities in the face of
enemy threats.
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