The U.S. and Japan have called for an emergency meeting of the United
Nations Security Council after North Korea claimed to have successfully
tested a hydrogen bomb, a senior UN official told ABC News.
Before North Korea's announcement, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake
was 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.”
"U.S. Forces Korea is aware of reports on North Korea's nuclear test
today," a U.S. Pacific Command spokesman said. "We remain vigilant and
are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea ally
to maintain security on the peninsula."
NSC spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that the seismic activity
took place in the vicinity of a known nuclear test site and that his
agency has seen Pyongyang's claims of a nuclear test. However, he could
not confirm North Korea's claims.
"We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close
coordination with our regional partners," Price said in a statement.
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.
According to Price, north Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006
and only twice since, not including today's unconfirmed test.
"We condemn any violation of UNSC Resolutions and again call on North
Korea to abide by its international obligations and commitments," Price
said.
"We have consistently made clear that we will not accept [North Korea]
as a nuclear state. We will continue to protect and defend our allies in
the region, including the Republic of Korea, and will respond
appropriately to any and all North Korean provocations," Price concluded
his statement.
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 U.S. doesn't believe that North Korea has the
capability for a hydrogen bomb but can't be certain until testing is
conducted.
Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo of the CTBTO, an organization
monitoring the world for signs of nuclear testing, said, "If confirmed
as a nuclear test, this act constitutes a breach of the universally
accepted norm against nuclear testing; a norm that has been respected by
183 countries since 1996."
In its statement, the CTBTO urges North Korea to "refrain from further
nuclear testing and to join the 183 States Signatories who have signed
the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty," which bans all nuclear
explosions.
This is a developing story. Please check back in for updates
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