North Korea says it has successfully tested a hydrogen bomb as a magnitude 5.1 earthquakewas measured in the country near the site of an earlier nuclear weapons test, officials said Tuesday night.
The tremblor was detected about 12 miles ENE of Sungjibaegam and the South Korean weather agency said indications were that it was “artificial.”
“We have perfectly succeeded in testing our first hydrogen bomb,” an anchor said on North Korean state TV. “It was one hundred percent capable from our own wisdom, technology, and power. We have now scientifically test-proved a miniaturized hydrogen bomb.”
It was not clear if the quake was caused by a nuclear blast, but U.S. officials were assessing the situation.
“U.S. Forces Korea is aware of reports on North Korea’s nuclear test today,” said a U.S. Pacific Command spokesman. “We remain vigilant and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea ally to maintain security on the peninsula.”
The site of Tuesday’s quake is about 5 miles from the Punggye-ri nuclear site where a test was conducted in 2013.
A quake measured at the site at that time registered the same magnitude. It was later deemed to be a nuclear explosion.
U.S. officials said that they will send up specially equipped “sniffer” planes to determine whether a nuclear test was conducted and if so, what type of test was done.
One official said the US doesn’t believe that North Korea has the capability for a hydrogen bomb but can’t be certain until testing is conducted.(JOOHEE CHO,LUIS MARTINEZ and TOM LIDDY)
Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/north-korea-successfully-tested-hydrogen-bomb-amid-earthquake/story?id=36109939
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