North Korea has tested the hydrogen bomb. World reaction

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North Korea announced on Wednesday the "successful" testing of the hydrogen bomb.

The test was announced on the state television of the DPRK, but even before this several monitoring agencies recorded an artificial earthquake in the region of the famous nuclear test site in North Korea.

The US Geological Survey reported an 5.1 magnitude earthquake, the epicenter of which, according to South Korea, was about 50 kilometers from the Pungheri site, where Pyongyang conducted nuclear tests in the past.

If this information is confirmed, it will be the fourth nuclear test conducted by North Korea.

“We assume that it was an artificial earthquake. We analyze its scale and study its epicenter together with the South Korean Institute of Geological Sciences and Mineral Resources, ”a representative of the South Korean meteorological service told Reuters.

The Chinese Seismological Center described atypical seismic activity as an “alleged explosion”.

The UN Security Council plans to discuss the situation at an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning, as several diplomats accredited to the UN told the Reuters news agency.

US reaction

The White House said it could not yet confirm or deny North Korea's statement. However, a representative of the US National Security Council released a statement noting that the US “condemns any violation of UN Security Council resolutions and calls on North Korea to comply with its international obligations and promises,” writes “Voice of America«.

The reaction of Russia

Nuclear tests of the DPRK violate the spirit of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and threaten Russia's national security. This was written on his Facebook page by the head of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev.

Australian Reaction

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed "strong protest at the provocative and dangerous actions of the DPRK regime, which claims to have succeeded in testing a hydrogen bomb." “Today’s nuclear test confirms North Korea’s status as a rogue state, as well as the danger it poses to the world,” the head of the Australian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. — Australia will express its position to the DPRK government through direct channels, as well as within regional and international forums. Together with friends and partners, we will work to support the security of the Republic of Korea and enhance stability in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Paris reaction

The "unacceptable violation" of the UN Security Council resolution called Paris a hydrogen bomb test conducted by the DPRK. This is stated in the statement of the Elysian Palace. France condemned these actions of Pyongyang, writes TASS.

South Korea

South Korean news agency "Renhap" reported that the country's President Pak Geun-hye in the near future will hold a meeting of the National Security Council.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense reported that the country's armed forces are intensifying their monitoring of North Korea.

Japan reaction

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that the country should give a decisive response to the challenge North Korea has been facing in the area of ​​non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Abe called the last nuclear test a security threat to Japan. In a conversation with journalists, the Prime Minister said that Japan could not come to terms with conducting nuclear tests with North Korea.

North Korea previously conducted three nuclear tests: in 2006, 2009 and 2013. They all took place at the Punheri training ground.

Researchers at the American-Korean Institute at Johns Hopkins University in December said that the latest satellite images indicate that North Korea is building a new tunnel at the Pungheri test site.

“Although there are no signs of an upcoming nuclear test, the new tunnel strengthens North Korea’s ability to conduct additional explosions if it so decides,” they said at the time.