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Kristine Kwok

North Korea said on Wednesday it had successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb, dealing a blow to ­regional efforts to contain tensions surrounding Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, and drawing condemnation from Beijing.
The claim, which if true would mark significant progress in Pyongyang’s nuclear abilities, triggered condemnation from across the region, and scepticism from some countries over whether the test had been ­successful.
WATCH: North Korea announces successful hydrogen nuclear test


Beijing said it had summoned North Korea’s ambassador and “firmly opposed” the test.
“We strongly urge [North Korea] to remain committed to its denuclearisation commitment, and stop taking any actions that would make the situation worse,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (華春瑩) said.
READ MORE – Don’t believe the hype: Nuclear experts remain sceptical about North Korea’s hydrogen bomb claims
She said Beijing had no advance knowledge of the test, but would “make an assessment” of Pyongyang’s claim that it involved a hydrogen bomb. If confirmed, this would be the country’s fourth test of a nuclear bomb.
Its previous trials have been of atomic devices, which are less powerful.

Beijing has condemned each nuclear test and the latest development has put focus on how it will respond this time.
READ MORE: H-bomb test by North Korea sends tremors to China’s border
Many diplomats and analysts have said that China played a key role in reining in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, but its economic support – and in particular its petroleum exports – provided an important lifeline to Pyongyang and rendered the international sanctions ineffective.
But many also believe that China’s sway on North Korea has diminished since Kim Jong-un took power four years ago. Relations between the ideological allies have cooled since then. Many analysts put this down to Kim’s authorisation of the third nuclear test, in February 2013, against Beijing’s advice.

Observers said Beijing was likely to respond to the latest test with more stringent measures, such as cooperating with the UN Security Council on another round of sanctions, but possibly not to the extent some countries would hope for due to strategic calculations.
“It’s going to be difficult for China to devise the scale of the sanctions: to impose sanctions without creating instability or even leading to the country’s collapse,” said Cai Jian, a professor of Korean studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
READ MORE: ‘I see North Korea as one of the most evil, inhuman situations happening on earth’
Halting energy supply, for instance, would cause economic chaos and political instability in North Korea and “China would rather be cautious about it”, Cai said.
Many Chinese analysts have in recent years argued that the ­reclusive state has become more of a liability than a useful partner, but Cai said ensuring the political stability of a neighbour remained an important consideration.
“For China, North Korea’s nuclear programme itself does not pose major security threats, but rather it’s the resulting response from the US and Japan, such as enhancing their military deployment in the region, that is causing a headache for Beijing.”

There had been signs that Beijing and Pyongyang were seeking to repair ties in recent months.
In October, Beijing sent one of its most senior officials, Liu Yunshan (劉雲山), to Pyongyang to attend the 70th anniversary of the country’s ruling party. Last month, Pyongyang sent Kim’s favourite pop band, The Moranbong, on a performance trip to Beijing. But the show was cancelled at the last minute.
Yesterday’s test had dealt a blow to such efforts and would halt further high-level exchanges between the two countries, said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. “We can only do our best, such as to impose sanctions and pick up diplomatic ties when things are better,” Shi said.
But the cold shoulder should go only so far, Shi said. “If our relations became hostile, it would be a threat to China.”
WATCH: Chinese traffic cameras capture tremors from bomb test


North Korea announced in a statement carried by the country’s official news agency KCNA that it had detonated a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device at 10am yesterday in a “safe and perfect manner”.
“The test means a higher stage of [North Korea’s] development of nuclear force,” it said.
Kim first claimed the country was in possession of a hydrogen bomb in December, when he visited a historical site known as the birthplace of the country’s domestic armaments industry.
The test is not only a grave provocation to our national security but also a threat to our future ... and a strong challenge to international peace and stability
South Korean President Park Geun-hye
At the time, Washington and some analysts had doubted whether the country had the ability to develop such an advanced weapon. Following yesterday’s test, some nuclear and military experts remained sceptical, saying the detected seismic activity was too small for a hydrogen bomb, or suggesting that the testing was ­incomplete.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye, speaking at an emergency meeting of the country’s National Security Council convened immediately after Pyongyang’s announcement, described the test as a “grave provocation”.
“The test is not only a grave provocation to our national security but also a threat to our future ... and a strong challenge to international peace and stability,” she said, calling for strong sanctions on Pyongyang.
South Korea’s defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said South Korea’s military had upgraded its alert status and would “take necessary measures” in cooperation with its ally, the United States.
He said the allies had increased their joint surveillance of North Korea’s military activities.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo would make a “firm response” to North Korea at the UN Security Council.
> MORE REPORTS A7
> EDITORIAL, HARRY’S VIEW A10


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North Korea

‘Stop making the situation worse’: North Korea’s H-bomb test draws condemnation from Beijing

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) guides the multiple-rocket launching drill of women's sub-units under KPA Unit 851, in this undated file photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 24, 2014. North Korea said it had successfully conducted a test of a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device on the morning of January 6, 2016, marking a significant advance in the isolated state's strike capabilities and raising alarm bells in Japan and South Korea. REUTERS/KCNA/Files THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FROM THE FILES PACKAGE â€˜NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST'SEARCH â

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying speaks during a briefing at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea's main ally China said it "firmly opposes" Pyongyang's purported hydrogen bomb test and is monitoring the environment along its border with the North near the test site. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signs a document regarding the test of a hydrogen bomb, in this still image taken from KRT video and released by Yonhap on January 6, 2016. North Korea's state-run television KRT on Wednesday released still photographs of Kim ordering the conduct of a nuclear test. North Korea said it had successfully conducted a test of a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device on Wednesday morning. KRT said Kim signed the documents on Sunday. The announcement on North Korean state TV followed detection of a 5.1 magnitude earthquake near its known nuclear test site earlier on Wednesday. REUTERS/Yonhap ATTENTION EDITORS - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Officers from the Korea Meteorological Administration point at the epicenter of seismic waves in North Korea, at the National Earthquake and Volcano Center of the Korea Meteorological Administration in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said it conducted a powerful hydrogen bomb test Wednesday, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would be a huge jump in Pyongyang's quest to improve its still-limited nuclear arsenal. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Ko Yun-hwa, of the Korea Meteorological Administration, points to seismic waves observed in South Korea, during North Korea’s test of a hydrogen bomb, January 6, 2016. Photo: Reuters

H-bomb test by North Korea sends tremors to China’s border

Some local residents in Yanbian said they felt small earthquake as North Korea launches nuclear test.

Hydrogen or hot air? Nuclear experts sceptical about North Korea’s H-bomb claims 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and senior Chinese Communist Party official Liu Yunshan (R) wave during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in this undated file photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on October 12, 2015. North Korea said it had successfully conducted a test of a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device on the morning of January 6, 2016, marking a significant advance in the isolated state's strike capabilities and raising alarm bells in Japan and South Korea. REUTERS/KCNA/FilesATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE 

A man watches a television screen showing a news broadcast on North Korea's nuclear test at Seoul Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015. North Korea said it successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb, the fourth time it has detonated a nuclear device and a move that reignites tensions with neighbors including China after months of calm. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left). Photo: Reuters

Meet the legendary North Korean newsreader who came out of retirement to tell the world about H-bomb blast

epa05089301 South Koreans watch TV news showing North Korea's breaking news, at Seoul station, in Seoul, South Korea, 06 January 2016. North Korea announced the same day that it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test at 10:00 a.m. (Pyongyang Time). The announcement came hours after what seems to be an artificial earthquake was detected close to the North's nuclear test site. EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) looks through a periscope of a submarine during his inspection of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Naval Unit 167 in this undated file photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang June 16, 2014. North Korea said it had successfully conducted a test of a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device on the morning of January 6, 2016, marking a significant advance in the isolated state's strike capabilities and raising alarm bells in Japan and South Korea. REUTERS/KCNA/Files ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS.

South Koreans watch Ri Chun-hee on TV news claiming North Korea successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test at 10 am Pyongyang Time. The announcement came hours after what seems to be an artificial earthquake was detected close to the North's nuclear test site. Photo: EPA

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