SURPRISE

N. Korea: Hydrogen Bomb Test Successful

Announced after quake detected near nuclear test site.

Pyongyang said Wednesday it had successfully tested its first “miniaturized hydrogen bomb,” in a surprise announcement that came after a South Korean weather agency reported seeing signs of an “artificial quake” near a North Korean nuclear test site. If the claims are true, it will mark a big step in North Korea’s development of nuclear warheads that would be capable of reaching the U.S. Kim Jong Un reportedly ordered the testing on Dec. 15, according to the North’s state-run news agency. South Korean ministers called an emergency meeting over the latest incident while Japanese officials were also convening to discuss the matter. White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said Washington has yet to confirm the claims, but condemns “any violation of UNSC resolutions and again calls on North Korea to abide by its international obligations and commitments.” The UN Security Council will meet Wednesday in New York to discuss the alleged test.

France joined China and Australia in condemning the alleged nuclear test. China, which is considered Pyongyang's closest ally, said the purported test was conducted in defiance of the international community. French President François Hollande also denounced the test as an “unacceptable violation of Security Council resolutions.”