North Korea said Wednesday it had successfully carried out its first test of a hydrogen bomb, potentially marking a significant advancement in the country’s nuclear program.
The isolated Asian country made the announcement Wednesday following a seismic event that registered at a magnitude of 5.1. The event was detected by agencies across the globe, with many quickly calling it an apparentexplosion and likely nuclear test.
A North Korean woman announcing the alleged hydrogen bomb test on state TV.
In a statement, North Korea call its test a "world startling event," adding that it was "conducted with indigenous wisdom, technology and efforts."
"It was confirmed that the H-bomb test conducted in a safe and perfect manner had no adverse impact on the ecological environment," the statement went on.
A map shows the epicenter of the seismic event North Korea claims was a hydrogen bomb test.
North Korea has previously conducted three nuclear tests, but none have involved hydrogen bombs. However, late last year leader Kim Jong-un claimed his country was "ready to detonate a self-reliant A-bomb and H-bomb," the BBCreported.
U.S. officials said they took Kim's threat seriously, but seriously questioned whether North Korea could really deliver on its promise.
Following the announcement about the test Wednesday, North Korean state media aired what appeared to be stock images of people in the country celebrating.
South Korea's National Security Council gathered for an emergency meeting in response to the test, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News' request for comment Tuesday evening. However, citing an anonymous official Reuters reported the U.S. Defense Department was "looking into the reports of a possible seismic event near North Korean nuclear facilities."
In 2013, the USGS recorded a nuclear test in the same area and at nearly the same magnitude as Wednesday’s test.
The 2013 test happened just before 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 2. The blast measured magnitude 5.1 and was centered 12 miles northeast of Sungjibaegam — the same area and magnitude as Tuesday's event.
A hydrogen bomb can be far more powerful than a typical nuclear bomb. However, during a broadcast announcing the detonation, North Korea claimed the test was of a "miniaturized" hydrogen bomb.
In addition to Kim's comments last year about testing a hydrogen bomb, South Korean officials said in October their isolated northern neighbor was preparing for a fourth nuclear test, The New York Times reported. However, South Korean officials did not expect a test to come in the near future. Preparations reportedly were taking place at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, which is located near Sungjibaegam.
North Korea also tested an underwater ballistic missile in 2015.
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