North Korea Says 1st H-Bomb Test Conducted "Successfully"

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - JAN. 6: North Korea said Wednesday it has for the first time "successfully" conducted a hydrogen bomb test ahead of leader Kim Jong Un's birthday later this week. The announcement of the country's fourth nuclear test was made through official media at noon local time. North Korea said the test, conducted at 10 a.m., means a "higher stage of its development of nuclear force." North Korea's government released a statement saying the test was aimed at defending itself from Washington's "hostile" policy and nuclear threat. North Korea also said it has "proudly joined the advanced ranks of nuclear weapon states" following the experiment, which is believed to have been conducted in the morning at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Hamkyong Province. North Korea last carried out a nuclear test, its third, in February 2013, in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Kim ordered the test on Dec. 15, according to official media in Pyongyang. The date is three days after an all-female band formed by leader Kim abruptly cancelled its first concert abroad, just hours before it was scheduled to take the stage in the heart of Beijing, and headed back to Pyongyang. Since then, there has been widespread speculation that North Korea's relations with China, its most important political ally and economic lifeline, once again frayed. The China Earthquake Network Center said the quake occurred at a depth of 0 km. In December, Kim, whose birthday will fall on Friday, suggested in an official media report that his country was already in possession of technology necessary to manufacture a hydrogen bomb. His indication of progress in North Korea's weapons development was seen by North Korea watchers as another bid to attract the attention of the United States and re-engage in diplomacy with Washington.
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - JAN. 6: North Korea said Wednesday it has for the first time "successfully" conducted a hydrogen bomb test ahead of leader Kim Jong Un's birthday later this week. The announcement of the country's fourth nuclear test was made through official media at noon local time. North Korea said the test, conducted at 10 a.m., means a "higher stage of its development of nuclear force." North Korea's government released a statement saying the test was aimed at defending itself from Washington's "hostile" policy and nuclear threat. North Korea also said it has "proudly joined the advanced ranks of nuclear weapon states" following the experiment, which is believed to have been conducted in the morning at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Hamkyong Province. North Korea last carried out a nuclear test, its third, in February 2013, in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Kim ordered the test on Dec. 15, according to official media in Pyongyang. The date is three days after an all-female band formed by leader Kim abruptly cancelled its first concert abroad, just hours before it was scheduled to take the stage in the heart of Beijing, and headed back to Pyongyang. Since then, there has been widespread speculation that North Korea's relations with China, its most important political ally and economic lifeline, once again frayed. The China Earthquake Network Center said the quake occurred at a depth of 0 km. In December, Kim, whose birthday will fall on Friday, suggested in an official media report that his country was already in possession of technology necessary to manufacture a hydrogen bomb. His indication of progress in North Korea's weapons development was seen by North Korea watchers as another bid to attract the attention of the United States and re-engage in diplomacy with Washington.
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Editorial #:
503995446
Collection:
Kyodo News
Date created:
06 January, 2016
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00:01:56:01
Location:
Pyongyang, Pyongyang, North Korea
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Source:
Kyodo News
Object name:
16-01-06-1-a.mov