North Korea has said it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb designed to be mounted on its newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), producing a greater yield than any of its previous nuclear tests.

The announcement came hours after a large earthquake that appeared to be man-made was detected near the North's known nuclear test site, indicating that the reclusive country had conducted its sixth nuclear test since 2006.

The tremor struck within a kilometre of the site of a magnitude-5.3 "nuclear explosion" from September last year, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

South Korea said this most recent test appeared to be several times stronger than its previous test, estimating the nuclear blast yield was between 50 to 60 kilotons — or five to six times stronger than the North Korea's fifth test a year ago.

It is bound to increase the tension hours after United States President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked by phone about the "escalating" nuclear crisis.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said they had examined the data from the tremors and "concluded that it was a nuclear test", while Mr Abe said Japan was speaking to other nations.

"I have already instructed the related ministries to collect and analyse intelligence, to give people of Japan informed appropriately, as well as to liaise with the related nations such as the US, South Korea, China and Russia," he said.

"It is absolutely unacceptable if North Korea did force another nuclear test, and we must protest strongly.
"We will hold National Security Council from now on to centralise and analyse intelligence."

The hydrogen bomb report by North Korea's official KCNA news agency comes amid heightened regional tension following Pyongyang's two tests of ICBMs in July that potentially could fly about 10,000 km, putting many parts of the mainland US within range.

Under third-generation leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea has been pursuing a nuclear device small and light enough to fit on a long-range ballistic missile, without affecting its range and making it capable of surviving re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

North Korea, which carries out its nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions and sanctions, "recently succeeded" in making a more advanced hydrogen bomb that will be loaded on to an ICBM, KCNA said.

As part of North Korea's work to build an arsenal of viable nuclear ICBMs that can reach the US mainland, Mr Kim inspected the loading of a "homemade" H-bomb into an ICBM during a visit to the North's Nuclear Weapons Institute.

KCNA said the power of the bomb was adjustable from tens to hundreds of kilotons.

"[It] is a multi-functional thermonuclear nuke with great destructive power, which can be detonated even at high altitudes for super-powerful EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack according to strategic goals," KCNA said.

KCNA quoted Mr Kim as saying the process would enable "the country to produce powerful nuclear weapons, as many as it wants".

North Korea in July conducted its first ever ICBM tests, part of a stunning jump in progress for the country's nuclear and missile program since Mr Kim rose to power following his father's death in late 2011.

The North conducted two nuclear tests last year alone.

The first involved what it claims to have been a hydrogen bomb and the second was its most powerful ever.

Experts and outside governments are sceptical of the hydrogen claim, but it is almost impossible to independently confirm North Korean statements about its highly secret weapons program.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been high since last month when North Korea threatened to launch missiles into the sea near the strategically located US Pacific territory of Guam after Mr Trump said Pyongyang would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the US.

North Korea further raised regional tensions on Tuesday by launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, drawing international condemnation.

Many Japanese received a government alert on their phone when North Korea launched this latest missile. Some found it alarming, others thought it was an overreaction.
The key question is how far North Korea has gotten in efforts to consistently shrink down nuclear warheads so they can fit on long-range missiles.

South Korea's main spy agency has previously asserted that it does not think Pyongyang currently has the ability to develop miniaturised nuclear weapons that can be mounted on ballistic missiles.

Some experts think the North may have mastered this technology.

North Korea is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs and has spent decades trying to perfect a multistage, long-range missile to eventually carry smaller versions of those bombs.

"6th H-bomb"?   

Brian Ross wrote on Sep 4^th, 2017 at 10:31pm:



well even 1 is shocking dont you think?...

tonight they mentioned how Kimmie could let one off in outer space and damage all our communication satellites..

how will you go without your mobile and Mr google...all thanks to kimmie?...

I dont think this guy cares... as we know no one is game to tell him how wrong he has got it..

There is no proof that Kim has let off an H bomb -
it could have been an enhanced fission weapon.
That is when they surround the fission bomb with a layer of U235.
That creates a bigger yield but is not an H bomb.

The explosion was between 100 & 150 Kilotons -
a bit smaller than most H bombs.
That sounds like an an enhanced fission bomb.

The one dropped on Hiroshima was 12 Kt & U235 canon type -
& Nagasaki was 20 Kt of a Plutonium 239 implosion type.