Kim Jong-un celebrates ‘H-bomb’ test
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hailed the recent test of a hydrogen bomb, calling it a “great victory,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday.
Kim took part in a feast at Mokran House in Pyongyang to celebrate the allegedly successful test of the nuclear weapon and praised the scientists and technicians for their development of the bomb, it said.
On Sept. 3, Pyongyang exploded an H-bomb which it claims can fit inside an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The news agency did not say when the feast was held, but analysts presume it was on Saturday, Sept. 9, North Korea’s Foundation Day, as the agency said the North presented the H-bomb’s explosion as a song of triumph in September on the anniversary of when the country was established.
“The Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea hosted a feast for scientists and technicians who worked for the nuclear development,” the KCNA said. “Those who contributed to the successful testing of the H-bomb for an ICBM were invited.”
Kim said the nuclear test was “a great victory of the Korean people which they achieved at the cost of their blood by tightening their belts in hard times.”
He also said North Korea “will surely win the ultimate victory because it has a strong independent economic basis, a large force of clever scientists, and its Army equipped with revolutionary spirit,” according to the KCNA.
The news agency said Kim urged the attendees to work harder to achieve stronger nuclear power for self-protection. Kim stressed the “nuclear combatants” will give even more efforts for greater victory although they achieved “total success” with the H-bomb test.
Many high-ranking officials from the government, the party and the Army took part in the feast, including the Korean People’s Army Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong-so, Premier Pak Pong-ju and Workers’ Party Vice Chairman Choe Ryong-hae.
The North also held a separate art performance in celebration, which was attended by Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju.