North Korea Claims to Have Successfully Tested a 'Hydrogen Bomb'

On September 3, North Korea confirmed that it had conducted its sixth nuclear test. A strong earthquake was recorded in North Korea, reported to have occurred at the surface. Japan stated that the tremor was at least ten times stronger than North Korea's last test. North Korean state television claimed the test was related to a 'hydrogen bomb' and was conducted 'with complete success.' The state network asserted that this bomb is capable of being mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles recently produced. Just hours before this official announcement, Japan's Foreign Ministry confirmed that the recent tremors recorded in North Korea were caused by Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test. On Sunday, at least one strong earthquake was recorded in North Korea, which was reported to be 'artificial.' According to the 'United States Geological Survey,' a 5.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded 55 kilometers north of Kimchack. The South Korean Meteorological Administration recorded the tremor at 12:36 PM local time. Shortly afterward, the Chinese seismic center announced that it had recorded two earthquakes at the same location, with the second measuring 4.6. China reported that the first tremor was 6.3 and the second was 'caused by a collapse.' In a statement released by this center, it was mentioned that the earthquake 'may have been caused by an explosion.' No reports of damage or casualties have been released. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the recorded earthquake was not natural and that they are investigating it. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that the recent test is 'completely unacceptable' and 'we must strongly express our protest.' The head of the South Korean parliamentary defense committee stated that the recent explosion likely had a yield of about 100 kilotons; if confirmed, this would be nearly twice as powerful as expected from a hydrogen bomb test and up to five times more than the bomb dropped by the U.S. military on Nagasaki in 1945. North Korea had stated hours before these events that it had enhanced its capabilities regarding the 'hydrogen bomb' and made it mountable on intercontinental ballistic missiles. The official North Korean news agency claimed on September 2 that Kim Jong-un supervised the advanced hydrogen bomb that is mountable on intercontinental ballistic missiles during a visit to the 'Nuclear Bomb Institute.' The official news agency also stated that the weaponry at its disposal has 'immense destructive power.' Concurrently with this report, U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized the need for close cooperation between their countries and South Korea regarding the 'escalating' nuclear crisis during a phone call. They also agreed on increasing pressure on Pyongyang. Recent reports regarding North Korea's military and nuclear activities have emerged amid one of the latest crises on the Korean Peninsula. Verbal attacks have been exchanged, particularly between Pyongyang and Washington and its allies in East Asia. In recent weeks, North Korea has conducted ballistic missile tests that appear to be intercontinental missiles capable of reaching U.S. territory. The United Nations Security Council has banned military-use ballistic and nuclear tests by Pyongyang. Following the recent tests, Donald Trump warned that North Korea would face 'fire and fury,' and Pyongyang threatened to attack Guam. These statements led to a period of heightened tensions and further verbal attacks until North Korea's leader stated that the plan to attack Guam was currently halted. However, shortly after, a large-scale joint exercise between South Korea and the United States began, and North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan into the sea. Afterward, the U.S. President emphasized that 'all options are on the table,' the Security Council condemned this action by Pyongyang, and the Russian President warned that the Korean Peninsula is on the brink of a major conflict. The official North Korean news agency stated on Sunday morning, prior to the tremors being recorded, that 'recent technical advancements in the performance of [the hydrogen bomb] are based on successful tests of the first bomb.' North Korea had claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb hours after an earthquake was recorded near one of its nuclear facilities in January 2016. A year later, it conducted another nuclear test. However, there have been other reports regarding the previous hydrogen test. For example, South Korea's state news agency reported that several researchers believe that test was an enhanced weapon rather than a hydrogen bomb. Currently, the total number of nuclear tests with military capability in North Korea stands at six, including other nuclear tests conducted in 2006, 2009, and 2013. This is the first nuclear test by Pyongyang since Donald Trump took office.