North Korea detonates its most powerful nuclear device, says conducts 'perfect'

North Korea on Sunday successfully conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, which it boasted was an advanced hydrogen bomb, thereby escalating it's stand-off with the United States and its allies.

The announcement from Pyongyang came a few hours after international seismic agencies detected a man-made earthquake near the North’s test site, which Japanese and South Korean officials said was around 10 times more powerful than the tremor picked up after its last test a year ago.

According to the reclusive state, a large “earthquake” felt throughout the region on Sunday was created by a hydrogen bomb that can be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.

The “artificial quake” measured 6.3-magnitude and was followed by a 4.6-magnitude quake originating near the North’s main testing site at Punggye-ri.

The UN’s atomic watchdog condemned the latest test, saying it was “extremely regrettable and violated the international community’s repeated demands.

Scientific evidence has showed that the detonated nuclear device was almost eight times the size of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. 

Tensions had already been running high, with Kim repeatedly defying international condemnation and increasingly blunt warnings by US President Donald Trump and continuing to launch ballistic missiles. 

Meanwhile Russia has urged for calm as it slammed North Korea.