North Korea claims it has hydrogen bomb

Kim Jong Un sent his favorite band, Moranbong, to Beijing on Thursday for the first time for a “friendship visit”, according to the state-run media site, Korean Central News Agency.

“The performers, through Korean-style light music and orchestra, made a solemn and impressive representation of the fact that a rosy future is unfolding for the great Paektusan nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Un”, read a press release from KCNP about a 2013 show.

But outside experts are skeptical of the boast, which Kim apparently made while visiting Phyongchon Revolutionary Site, a museum dedicated to the exploits of his grandfather Kim Il-Sung. “We don’t have any information that North Korea has developed an H-bomb, “Yonhap News Agency quoted an unidentified intelligence official as saying”.

A spokesperson for South Korea’s Defense Ministry said that its military had no intelligence to back up the claim.

Despite global sanctions, North Korea has tested three nuclear devices in the past.

On February 10, 2005, North Korea declared it had created nuclear weapons.

One thing can not be denied that no one outside a close circle of experts and leaders in Pyongyang knows about the development made in the North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Using satellite imagery, the IAEA observed renovation and construction activity at the main Yongbyon plant, which appears to be consistent with the country’s own statements that it is further developing its nuclear capabilities, said Yukiya Amano, director general of the IAEA.

Kim’s state has conducted at least three nuclear tests since 2006.

Analysts in recent years have believed that North Korea may have been working toward – but didn’t yet have the capability to produce – a thermonuclear bomb, which can be hundreds of times more powerful than an atomic bomb.

Lee Chun-geun, a senior fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute, told Yonhap that while it’s hard to assess the validity of the remark, it is technically difficult for North Korea to develop hydrogen bombs.

South Korean newspaper Hankook Ilbo reported North Korea’s unusual announcement comes a day ahead of the first inter-Korea ministerial-level talks at Kaesong, North Korea.

“The situation on the Korean peninsula is very delicate, complex and fragile”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Huan Chunying told reporters.

The all-female group will perform for selected state officials (their core fan base) alongside North Korea’s State Merited Chorus.

Global experts believe the country does not have the capacity to build such a powerful weapon.