North Korea lets off hydrogen bomb

North Korea announces hydrogen bomb test

BBC,

6 January, 2015

Punggye-ri has previously been used to conduct underground nuclear tests

The North Korean authorities say they have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb amid reports of a tremor near the main nuclear test site.

State media announced the test after monitors detected a 5.1 magnitude quake close to the Punggye-ri site.

The North is thought to have conducted three previous underground nuclear tests there since 2006.

A hydrogen bomb uses fusion to create a blast far more powerful than that of a more basic atomic bomb.

In a surprise announcement a newsreader on North Korean state TV said: "The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10:00 am on January 6, 2016."

Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Pyongyang had developed a hydrogen bomb, although international experts were sceptical.

And the thousands of small quakes in North America and elsewhere are't manmade,I suppose?

North Korean Nuclear Tests May Have Caused Country's Earthquake

The South Korean meteorological agency and Japan's Ministry of defense reports that the earthquake on Wednesday in North Korea may be artificial and caused by a nuclear test.

Sputnik,

6 January, 2015

The South Korean government has convened an emergency meeting over the issue, YTN television reported.

 

Bill Ide 易順泰Verified account‏@Bill_Ide

China Earthquake Administration also confirming North Korea quake (test), magnitude 4.9 & depth of 0km #voaalert

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3:27 PM - 6 Jan 2016

South Korea confirmed that North Korea may announce a nuclear test in 06.30 MSK, the Yonhap agency reported.

According to the agency, Pyongyang said that an "important statement" will be made at noon (12.30 p.m. Seoul time or 04.30 GMT).

The US Department of defense is investigating the earthquake data.

Tokyo admits the likelihood that North Korea might have conducted a nuclear test on Wednesday, which caused an earthquake in the country, Yoshihide Suga, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said.

"Judging by the past experience, we are now considering the possibility of North Korea's nuclear test," Suga told reporters.

​South Korea's weather service reported that the earthquake was of an "artificial nature." The USGS say that the earthquake was of 5.1 magnitude with the epicenter located in Pekam county, in Yangkang province.

South Korean sources reported that the earthquake occurred near the town of Kilchu.

 

CBSNVerified account‏@CBSNLive

MORE: North Korea earthquake appears to be man-made, South Korean officials say http://cbsn.ws/1RqoKfX 

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3:28 PM - 6 Jan 2016

South Korean intelligence claims that North Korea did not notify the United States and China about their plans to conduct a nuclear test, the Yonhap agency reports, citing a representative of South Korean intelligence service.

"North not previously notified the United States and China on the nuclear test."

In 2003, Pyongyang withdrew from the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a deal that was intended to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons manufacture and possible use.

In 2005, North Korea declared itself a nuclear power, and conducted several nuclear weapons tests, sparking concerns in the international community, particularly in neighboring South Korea. Almost four years later, Pyongyang tested additional nuclear weapons.

The official data on the country's nuclear program has not been released, and research on the issue is based on external observations and reports made by North Korean authorities.

S. Korea boosts military readiness, surveillance after Pyongyang’s hydrogen bomb test

© Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters

South Korea’s military has increased its monitoring of North Korea after the state claimed a successful test of a miniaturized hydrogen device. Meanwhile Japan said Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test poses a threat to its national security.