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06 January 2016•Update: 06 January 2016
WASHINGTON
Defense chief Ash Carter on Wednesday reassured his South Korean counterpart Han Min-koo of the U.S.’ "ironclad commitment" to the defense of South Korea.
The reassurances came amid North Korean claim to have carried out an underground hydrogen bomb test.
"Secretary Carter and Minister Han agreed that any such test would be an unacceptable and irresponsible provocation and is both a flagrant violation of international law and a threat to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the entire Asia-Pacific region," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.
Carter has reiterated the U.S. commitment to the South Korea "includes all aspects of the United States' extended deterrence," according to Cook.
"Carter and Han agreed that North Korea's provocations should have consequences," Cook said. "They also agreed to the importance of close coordination with the international community and regional partners in condemning this action."
The world has been on tenter hooks after the North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA made a midday announcement that the “historic test” had been carried out under the orders of leader Kim Jong-un - who last month warned for the first time that his country was “ready to detonate a self-reliant H-bomb”.
Hydrogen bombs involve fission and fusion reactions to generate greater power than single-stage atomic weapons. If the claims are confirmed, it would mark a major upgrade in North Korea’s nuclear capability.
The pariah state has carried out three nuclear tests since 2006 and observers say the explosion claimed Wednesday was slightly larger than the last test in 2013.
The UN Security Council announced it would hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss a response to the test as governments around the world condemned North Korea’s claim.
