WORLD North ignites H- blast alarm

NORTH Korea has conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, which it says is an advanced hydrogen bomb for a long- range missile, marking a dramatic escalation of the stand- off with the US and its allies.

Yesterday’s announcement from Pyongyang came hours after international seismic agencies detected a man- made earthquake near the North’s test site, which Japanese and South Korean officials said was about 10 times more powerful than the tremor picked up after its last test a year ago.

There was no independent confirmation that the detonation, which drew swift international condemnation, was a hydrogen bomb rather than a less powerful atomic device.

North Korea, which carries out its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions and sanctions, announced on state television that a hydrogen bomb test ordered by leader Kim Jongun was a “perfect success”.

The bomb was designed to be mounted on its newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile, the North said.

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, said the nuclear test was “an extremely regrettable act” that was “in complete disregard of the repeated demands of the international community”.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the international community must react firmly to this “new provocation”, and South Korean President Moon Jae- in said Seoul would push for steps to further isolate the North, including new UN sanctions.

Japan also raised the prospect of further sanctions, saying curbs on North Korea’s oil trade would be on the table.

China, North Korea’s sole major ally, said it strongly condemned the nuclear test and urged Pyongyang to stop its “wrong” actions. The US has repeatedly urged Beijing to do more to rein in its neighbour.

The latest nuclear test comes amid heightened regional tension following Pyongyang’s two tests of ICBMs in July that potentially could fly about 10,000km, putting many parts of the US mainland within range.

One expert said the size of yesterday’’ s detonation, measured by the US Geological Survey at magnitude 6.3, meant it was possible it could be a hydrogen bomb test.

“The power is 10 or 20 times or even more than previous ones,” Kune Y. Suh, a nuclear engineering professor at Seoul National University, said.

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke by phone about close co- operation between their countries and with South Korea.