North Korea's possible bomb detonation threatens regional balance of power

The North Korean regime says it has successfully detonated an H-bomb, creating a 5.1 magnitude artificial earthquake in the process, although some experts are already disputing these claims. While the regime has stated that it will not use nuclear weapons aggressively, if a successful test has indeed taken place of an H-bomb this clearly changes the balance of power in the region and will be a major cause for concern. "This H-bomb test brings us to a higher level of nuclear power" said the State agency. The US Government has said it will take a number of weeks to know whether the test is true, but the scale and effect of the test were felt by seismic detection devices in the region. For now, however, there seems to be little for the markets to concern themselves about, since previous nuclear tests by North Korea led to, at worst, only short-lived selloffs.

WASHINGTON — North Korea declared on Tuesday that it had detonated its first hydrogen bomb.

The assertion, if true, would dramatically escalate the nuclear challenge from one of the world’s most isolated and dangerous states.

In an announcement, North Korea said that the test had been a “complete success.” But it was difficult to tell whether the statement was true. North Korea has made repeated claims about its nuclear capabilities that outside analysts have greeted with skepticism.

“This is the self-defensive measure we have to take to defend our right to live in the face of the nuclear threats and blackmail by the United States and to guarantee the security of the Korean Peninsula,” a female North Korean announcer said, reading the statement on Central Television, the state-run network.

The North’s announcement came about an hour after detection devices around the world had picked up a 5.1 seismic event along the country’s northeast coast.