North Korea claimed on Sunday that it has successfully conducted hydrogen bomb test intended for ICBM, following the detection of two tremors earlier in the day at the nuclear test site.



The claim came after two quakes were detected in North Korea around noon on Sunday, touching off speculation that Pyongyang has conducted its sixth nuclear test despite mounting international pressure.







KCNA live broadcast (Yonhap)



North Korea made what it called "important announcement" through its state-run TV at 3 p.m. that it has successfully conducted the test of hydrogen bomb warhead designed for intercontinental ballistic missiles, though South Korean authorities are yet to confirm Pyongyang's allegation.



According to the Korean authorities and the media, a tremor with the 5.7 magnitude was detected in Gilju-gun, North Hamgyeong Province, at around 12:20 p.m. on Sunday. Another quake on scale of 4.6 was reportedly detected eight minutes later on the test site.



The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the first tremor was 6.3 on the exponential scale, suggesting a far bigger test than before. The location of the epicenter was near the site where the North had detonated nuclear explosions in the past.



President Moon Jae-in convened a National Security Council session, shortly after the "artificial earthquake" from North Korea's nuclear test site was detected.







Korea TV stations are airing breaking news about the apparent nuclear tests by North Korea on Sunday. (Yonhap)



Chinese authorities also confirmed the detection of the first quake, measuring its magnitude at 6.3. China's related agency also said it detected the North's second quake of 4.6 magnitude.



However, the Korean Meterological Administration said it did not detect any sign of the second quake, contradicting China's announcement. The KMA initially announced the first quake was 5.6 magnitude. It adjusted the magnitude to 5.7.



The weather agency said the North's artificial quake on Sunday is about 5 to 6 times more powerful than the fifth nuclear test last year.







(Yonhap)