N.Korea Gave China No Warning of Nuke Test

Japan called the test a “serious threat”, and South Korea said it would work with other nations to make sure Pyongyang pays a price.

The test – the fourth time that North Korea has exploded a nuclear device – unnerved South Korea and Japan and drew world criticism, including from China and Russia, Pyongyang’s two main allies.

In an emergency call Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Obama had said North Korea’s test is a despicable act that threatens the region and the worldwide community, Kyodo News reported.

“There’s a cooling of relations between Beijing and Pyongyang but nevertheless, China is it’s closest ally, it’s only friend if you like, and China does have considerable influence over North Korea”.

“The initial analysis is not consistent with the claim the regime has made of a successful hydrogen bomb test”, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

The magnitude of the seismic activity-5.1 on the Richter scale-was on a par with North Korea’s previous tests.

The announcement triggered swift worldwide condemnation but also scepticism, with experts suggesting the apparent yield was far too low for a thermonuclear device.

North Korea seems to specialize in nasty surprises.

However, the military official declined to provide further details on what kind of assets are under consideration.

Fusion weapons, such as hydrogen bombs, use fusion to combine small atoms – such as hydrogen – to create much larger amounts of energy.

South Korea’s meteorological agency said separately that it had not detected any radiation after North Korea said it successfully conducted the test.

But the North is already under layers of sanctions imposed following its past missile launches and three nuclear tests, and analysts have questioned what real impact fresh penalties will really have.

In a mark of protest against the test, South Korea will limit entry to the Kaesong industrial complex jointly operated with North Korea to minimal production staff, said an official from Seoul’s Unification Ministry.

Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement that the US and nations around the world have “unequivocally” condemned the test.