Seoul: North Korea says it has conducted a hydrogen bomb test. The surprise announcement complicates already difficult efforts to curb the country's push for a working nuclear arsenal.
The North said Wednesday in a broadcast that the test was successful. A hydrogen bomb is generally more powerful than a nuclear bomb.
"The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10:00 am on January 6, 2016, based on the strategic determination of the Workers' Party," a state television news reader announced.
North Korea said it would continue to strengthen its nuclear programme in order to protect itself against the hostile policies of the United States.
In a statement after conducting its fourth nuclear test, North Korea's state news agency said it will not give up its nuclear programme as long as the United States maintained what it called "its stance of aggression".
North Korea also said it will act as a responsible nuclear state and vowed not to use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty was infringed. It also said it will not transfer its nuclear capabilities to other parties.
North Korea has long pushed for an arsenal of warheads that can be mounted on a missile capable of reaching mainland America's shores. North Korea is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs. But it is not yet thought to have succeeded.
South Korean officials earlier detected an "artificial earthquake" near North Korea's main nuclear test site.
An H-bomb test will almost certainly lead to a push for new sanctions at the United Nations.
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