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11:43, 03-Sep-2017
Two earthquakes detected in DPRK before H-bomb claim
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The DPRK has claimed that it has successfully tested a hydrogen bomb designed to be mounted on its newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile.
The hydrogen bomb test ordered by leader Kim Jong Un was a "perfect success" and was a "meaningful" step in completing the country's nuclear weapons program, state television said.
The announcement came hours after two earthquakes were detected on Sunday.
- Updated at 14:00 BJT
The “artificial quake” was 9.8 times more powerful than the tremor from Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported citing the state weather agency.
- Updated at 13:24 BJT
The Japanese government said tremors detected in the DPRK were caused by a nuclear explosion.
"After examining the data we concluded that it was a nuclear test," Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said at a briefing broadcast by public broadcaster NHK, following a meeting of Japan's National Security Council.
- Updated at 12:34 BJT
Two earthquakes were reported in northeastern DPRK on Sunday, both of which were linked to a suspected nuclear test.
A second earthquake was detected in northeastern DPRK at around 11:38 BJT on Sunday with 4.6-magnitude, and may be due to a “collapse”, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The second earthquake occurred at the same spot as the previous one, at 24 km east-northeast of Sungjibaegam at a depth of 0 km.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said that an explosion occurred near a site where the DPRK has conducted nuclear tests in the past.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the DPRK is presumed to have conducted a sixth nuclear test, reported Yonhap.
- Updated at 12:21 BJT
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in northeastern DPRK at around 11:30 BJT (0330 GMT) on Sunday, according to CENC.
The epicenter of the quake, which is suspected to have been caused by an explosion, was detected at a depth of 0 km, said CENC.
According to the USGS, a 6.3-magnitude "mining explosion" was recorded at 24 km east-northeast of Sungjibaegam, the DPRK, with the epicenter of the quake being detected at a depth of 0 km.
"Possible explosion, located near the site where the DPRK has detonated nuclear explosions in the past. If this event was an explosion, the USGS National Earthquake Information Center cannot determine its type, whether nuclear or any other possible type," reported USGS on its website.
A tremor lasting about eight seconds was felt by residents in some cities of northeast China's Jilin Province.
South Korea is to convene a National Security Council meeting to discuss the earthquake, Yonhap reported, with the country's presidential office saying the DPRK may have conducted its sixth nuclear test.
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