North Korea conducts successful hydrogen bomb test

Pyongyang, Jan 6: Authorities in North Korea on Wednesday announced that it has successfully conducted hydrogen bomb test. As a result of the test a 5.1 magnitude tremor was detected close to its nuclear site at Punggye-ri.

It is believed that three previous underground nuclear tests were already conducted by the North Korea since 2006.

"The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10:00am on January 6, 2016, based on the strategic determination of the Workers' Party," a state television news reader announced.

"The latest test, completely based on our technology and our manpower, confirmed that our newly-developed technological resources are accurate and scientifically demonstrated the impact of our miniaturised H-bomb," the TV announcer added.

The surprise test was personally ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and came just two days before his birthday.

Hydrogen bomb is a weapon energised by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes in a chain reaction. It was developed the US in 1958.

It is more powerful than basic atomic bomb as it uses fusion to create blast. Nuclear bomb is also known as thermo-nuclear bomb.

The announcement will leave the international community scrambling to verify the accuracy of the North's claims.

OneIndia News (With agency inputs)