Calls the development of hydrogen bomb a ‘great victory’

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hosted a massive celebration to congratulate his nuclear scientists and technicians who steered the country’s sixth and largest nuclear test a week ago, its official news agency said on Sunday.

The U.S. and its allies had been bracing for another long-range missile launch in time for the 69th anniversary of North Korea’s founding on Saturday, but no fresh provocations were spotted while the North held numerous events to mark the holiday.

U.S. pushes for sanctions

Washington told the UN Security Council on Friday to call a meeting on Monday to vote on a draft resolution establishing additional sanctions on North Korea. Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said on Sunday that it was vital to put pressure on North Korea through additional sanctions, including blocking or slowing its fuel supplies.

KCNA said Mr. Kim threw a banquet to laud the nuclear scientists and other top military and party officials.

KCNA did not specify when the banquet had been held, but analysts said it had likely been on Saturday.

Photos released on Sunday by KCNA showed the young leader breaking into a broad smile at the People’s Theatre with two prominent scientists: Ri Hong-sop, head of North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Institute, and Hong Sung-mu, deputy director of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s munitions industry department.

KCNA said on Sunday the scientists and technicians “brought the great auspicious event of the national history, an extra-large event through the perfect success in the test of H-bomb”.

Mr. Kim praised the developers in his own remarks as “taking the lead” in attaining the “final goal of completing the state nuclear force” in line with his parallel pursuit of nuclear and economic development.

“The recent test of the H-bomb is the great victory won by the Korean people at the cost of their blood while tightening their belts in the arduous period,” Mr. Kim was quoted as saying.