N. Korea claims successful test of H-bomb for ICBM

epa06180477 Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Earthquake and Tsunami Observation division Director Toshiyuki Matsumori speaks to reporters as screens display shock waves recorded earlier in the day, during a press conference at the JMA headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, 03 September 2017. North Korea is believed to have conducted its sixth nuclear test. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON/

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Sunday that it has successfully conducted a test of a hydrogen bomb that can be loaded into its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

North Korea's state-run TV broadcaster said that Pyongyang carried out the sixth nuclear test at 12:00 p.m. in a special announcement hours after an artificial earthquake was detected near its nuclear test site. An artificial earthquake with a 5.7 magnitude was detected at 12:29 p.m. near North Korea's nuclear site in the northeastern area.

Earlier in the day, North Korea claimed that it has developed a hydrogen bomb that can be mounted on an ICBM.

"The H-bomb test was carried out to examine and confirm the accuracy and credibility of the power control technology, and internal structural design newly introduced into manufacturing H-bomb to be placed at the payload of the ICBM," the Korean Central News Agency said.

이수완 alexlee@ajunews.com