Chung Sung-Jun

North Korea has conducted its first successful miniaturised hydrogen bomb test, according to the country's state media. The fourth nuclear test in the country since 2006 was conducted in "self-defence" against the US and prompted a meeting of the UN security council.

There has not yet been independent confirmation of North Korea's claims, but geological monitoring confirmed a 5.1 magnitude quake 30 miles from Kilju city, near the Punggye-ri nuclear site. Monitors said it is unlikely that the tremor was natural. "The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10 am on January 6, 2016," said a newsreader on Korean Central Television -- the state run news agency. "With the perfect success of our historic H-bomb, we have joined the rank of advanced nuclear states."


The announcement follows Kim Jong-un's statement in December that the country had developed a hydrogen bomb. At the time most countries, including South Korea, were sceptical.

After its last nuclear weapon test three years ago, North Korea claimed the rocket launch was part of a scientific mission to put a satellite into orbit. The recent claim that the weapon's development is in "self-defence against the US having huge and numerous nuclear weapons" is not new. North Korea says it is its "legal right" to develop nuclear weapons to defend against the US.

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In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences. If North Korean H-bomb test reports are true, it is a grave breach of #UNSC resolutions & a provocation which I condemn without reservation — Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) January 6, 2016

King Jong-un was quoted as saying his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, "turned the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) into a powerful nuclear weapons state ready to detonate a self-reliant A-bomb and H-bomb to reliably defend its sovereignty and the dignity of the nation."


China, South Korea and Japan have all spoken out against the tests.

China -- North Korea's main ally -- said it "firmly opposes" the test. "China is steadfast in its position that the Korean Peninsula should be denuclearized and nuclear proliferation be prevented to maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia," said Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry. China said the test was conducted "irrespective of the international community's opposition."

Chinese residents along the North Korean border were evacuated after feeling tremors from the 5.1 magnitude quake.

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Philip Hammond, the UK foreign secretary, tweeted his condemnation of the test in the early hours: "If North Korean H-bomb test reports are true, it is a grave breach of #UNSC resolutions & a provocation which I condemn without reservation."


The European Union urged North Korea to work with the international community and to end what it referred to as "illegal and dangerous activity."

In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences. Here's the final, full KCNA bulletin on today's nuclear text. Also on https://t.co/78w4wJlNdO for those with access pic.twitter.com/mLrVR9QHGj — Martyn Williams (@martyn_williams) January 6, 2016

"If confirmed, this action would represent a grave violation of the DPRK's international obligations not to produce or test nuclear weapons," said Frederica Mogherini, the EU's high representative on foreign affairs. "I call on the DPRK to re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community."

US President Barack Obama's office also said it has not yet confirmed the nuclear test, but that it expects North Korea "to abide by its international obligations and commitments." "We have consistently made clear that we will not accept [North Korea] as a nuclear state," John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US State Department, told the Washington Post. "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."


Doubt has been cast over whether the North Korean reports are true. South Korea's intelligence agency said the device may not have been a hydrogen nuclear bomb, but an atomic bomb, according to Yonghap news agency. The South Korea meteorological agency also said it has not detected any radiation -- which would be expected.

It could take several weeks for confirmation that this was a hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb.

This is a developing story, we will update this post as more information is available.