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North Korea’s hydrogen bomb test: 5 things to know
Ryoo Yog-Gyu, a monitoring director of the National Earthquake and Volcano Center, shows seismic waves taking place in North Korea on a screen at the Korea Meteorological Administration center on Sunday.
As tensions continue to build between the United States and North Korea, here are five things to know in the aftermath of Sunday’s hydrogen bomb test:
- North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, said the test was conducted to "examine and confirm" using the hydrogen bomb as a payload for an intercontinental ballistic missile. "It also marked a very significant occasion in attaining the final goal of completing the state nuclear force," KCNA said.
- The security chiefs for the United States and South Korea spoke in a 20-minute emergency telephone call after North Korea's test. U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster spoke with South Korea's Chung Eui-yong, about an hour after the detonation.
- North Korea tested two nuclear weapons in 2016, including one in September that occurred close to the country's Foundation Day holiday.
- South Korea's weather agency said Sunday's test appears to have been several times stronger than previous ones. The Korea Meteorological Administration estimated that the nuclear blast yield Sunday was between 50 to 60 kilotons. That is five to six times stronger than North Korea's fifth test last September.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that it was a mistake to try to pressure Pyongyang into halting its nuclear missile program, Reuters reported.
