South Korea to resume anti-North propaganda broadcasts

North Korea announced on Wednesday it had tested a hydrogen bomb for the first time, drawing widespread worldwide condemnation but also skepticism and doubt.

The test, the fourth time the isolated state has exploded a nuclear device, was ordered by leader Kim Jong Un and successfully conducted at 10am local time (1230 AEDT) on Wednesday, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said. Yonhap said Seoul had deployed missiles, artillery and other weapons systems near the border to swiftly deal with any possible North Korean provocation.

The White House today said that North Korea could face additional economic sanctions after Pyongyang said it had tested a hydrogen nuclear device, noting it wants to work closely with China to determine the best response.

South Korea has broadcast propaganda messages from loudspeakers towards North Korea in the past.

Washington (CNN)U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry publicly took issue with China’s policy towards its neighbor North Korea on Thursday and defended the U.S. handling of the crisis sparked by Pyongyang’s nuclear test earlier this week.

Abe hinted Tokyo may tighten its unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang, saying, “We will respond to North Korea in a firm and resolute way, including by considering our country’s own measures”.

The two presidents were of the view that the DPRK should pay a corresponding price for its nuclear test and agreed to cooperate in adopting a strong Security Council resolution.

Another Pyongyang resident, Ri Chon Hyang, says the nuclear test made him happy.

David Albright, president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, said North Korea “may be bluffing” in making very large claims for what was actually a small atom bomb.

Seismic activity of the bomb was caught by monitoring stations in different continents at about 1:30 AM UTC, which tracked the source to North Korea.

Protesters took to the streets in Seoul to denounce North Korea’s reported nuclear testing.

South Korea’s top diplomat Yun Byung-se also plans to have phone talks with Wang, and a relevant schedule is being discussed, Yun’s spokesman Cho June-hyuck said at a press briefing.

Hydrogen bombs use a two-step process of fission and fusion that releases substantially more energy than an atomic bomb.

Whatever the motivation, North Korea could present a real danger to the global community and its actions need to be put a stop to.

“Let the world look up to the strong, self-reliant nuclear-armed state”, Kim wrote in what North Korean state TV displayed as a handwritten note.