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South Korea to resume propaganda broadcasts to North over test South Korea resumes propaganda broadcasts to North over tests
(about 4 hours later)
South Korea is to resume propaganda broadcasts into North Korea in response to Pyongyang's claims to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. South Korea has resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts into North Korea in response to Pyongyang's claim to have tested a hydrogen bomb.
Seoul said the broadcasts would restart on Friday at noon - a move that is likely to irritate North Korea. The move is expected to anger North Korea, which has reportedly moved more troops to the border region.
Although there is scepticism that North Korea carried out the H-bomb test it claims, its actions have been condemned by the international community.
The UN has agreed to draw up new measures against North Korea.The UN has agreed to draw up new measures against North Korea.
Earlier, the US said President Barack Obama had spoken with the leaders of South Korea and Japan and "agreed to work together to forge a united and strong international response to North Korea's reckless behaviour". Although there is scepticism that North Korea carried out the test as claimed, its actions have been condemned internationally.
South Korea's presidential office said the international community "must make sure that North Korea pays the corresponding price" for the nuclear test, reported Yonhap news agency. If the underground test is confirmed, it would be the North's fourth nuclear test and its first of the H-bomb, which is more powerful than an atomic bomb.
Loudspeakers are positioned in secret locations along the border, and are used to deliver outside news to North Korean soldiers and residents in the area, reports the BBC's Mariko Oi in Seoul. South Korea turned the speakers back on at noon local time (03:00 GMT) on Friday.
The broadcasts irritate the authorities in Pyongyang and North Korea has previously threatened to use force to stop them. The loudspeakers - at 11 locations along the border - blast Korean pop, news and weather reports and criticisms of the North over the border.
Last August, the two countries traded artillery fire over the issue before striking a deal that ended the broadcasts and pledged other measures to ease tensions that had escalated sharply in the summer. The broadcasts irritate the authorities in Pyongyang, and North Korea has previously threatened to use force to stop them.
Presidential security official Cho Tae-yong, announcing the resumption of the broadcasts, said the North's latest nuclear test had been a "grave violation" of that deal. Seoul agreed to stop them last year in a deal with the North to resolve particularly high tensions after a border skirmish.
South Korea has also begun limiting entry to the Kaesong industrial park in North Korea, which is jointly run by both countries. Only those directly involved in operations there will be allowed to enter from the South, said Seoul's Unification Ministry. But presidential security official Cho Tae-yong announced on Thursday that they would resume, saying the North's test claim had been a "grave violation" of the deal.
Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the test "a serious threat to our nation's security and absolutely cannot be tolerated".
He told parliament Japan would "deal with this situation in a firm manner through the co-operation with the United Nations Security Council".
He also added that Japan might take unilateral action, saying it is "considering measures unique to our nation", without detailing what those measures might be.
If confirmed, this would be North Korea's fourth nuclear test. It came days before Kim Jong-un's 33rd birthday, which falls on Friday and is expected to be marked by celebrations.
North Korea's nuclear testNorth Korea's nuclear test
Can North Korea now launch a nuclear missile?Can North Korea now launch a nuclear missile?
Despite North Korea's claims, experts are sceptical that it can make a nuclear weapon small enough to fit on a missile.Despite North Korea's claims, experts are sceptical that it can make a nuclear weapon small enough to fit on a missile.
What do we know about the latest test?What do we know about the latest test?
Observers agree a nuclear explosion of some kind took place and it seems to have been a bit bigger than the last test in 2013, but not nearly big enough to be a full thermonuclear explosion - an "H-bomb" - as Pyongyang claims.Observers agree a nuclear explosion of some kind took place and it seems to have been a bit bigger than the last test in 2013, but not nearly big enough to be a full thermonuclear explosion - an "H-bomb" - as Pyongyang claims.
Why can't the world stop North Korea?Why can't the world stop North Korea?
North Korea has a determination to defy both world opinion and heavy sanctions to reach its nuclear goal. Crucially, its main ally, China, has proved either unwilling or unable to help.North Korea has a determination to defy both world opinion and heavy sanctions to reach its nuclear goal. Crucially, its main ally, China, has proved either unwilling or unable to help.
On Thursday, the US said President Barack Obama and the leaders of South Korea and Japan had "agreed to work together to forge a united and strong international response to North Korea's reckless behaviour".
South Korea's presidential office said the international community "must make sure that North Korea pays the corresponding price" for the nuclear test, reported Yonhap news agency.
South Korea has also begun limiting entry to the Kaesong industrial park in North Korea, which is jointly run by both countries. Only those directly involved in operations there will be allowed to enter from the South, said Seoul's Unification Ministry.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the test was "a serious threat to our nation's security and absolutely cannot be tolerated".
He told parliament Japan would "deal with this situation in a firm manner through the co-operation with the United Nations Security Council".
He also added that Japan might take unilateral action, saying it is "considering measures unique to our nation", without detailing what those measures might be.
'Bang would have been bigger''Bang would have been bigger'
Hydrogen bombs are more powerful and technologically advanced than atomic weapons, using fusion - the merging of atoms - to unleash massive amounts of energy.Hydrogen bombs are more powerful and technologically advanced than atomic weapons, using fusion - the merging of atoms - to unleash massive amounts of energy.
Atomic bombs, like those that devastated two Japanese cities in World War Two, use fission, or the splitting of atoms.Atomic bombs, like those that devastated two Japanese cities in World War Two, use fission, or the splitting of atoms.
Many experts, including those from South Korea and the US, say the estimated power of Wednesday's blast fell far short of what would be expected from a hydrogen bomb.Many experts, including those from South Korea and the US, say the estimated power of Wednesday's blast fell far short of what would be expected from a hydrogen bomb.
US White House spokesman Josh Earnest said "initial analysis was not consistent with North Korea's claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test". But he added: "Nothing that has occurred in the last 24 hours has caused the United States government to change our assessment of North Korea's technical and military capabilities."
Some analysts have suggested it is possible Pyongyang tested a "boosted" atomic bomb, which uses some fusion fuel to increase the yield of the fission reaction.Some analysts have suggested it is possible Pyongyang tested a "boosted" atomic bomb, which uses some fusion fuel to increase the yield of the fission reaction.
The US and nearby countries including Japan are carrying out atmospheric sampling, hoping to find leaked radioactive material, which would give clues as to what kind of device was tested.The US and nearby countries including Japan are carrying out atmospheric sampling, hoping to find leaked radioactive material, which would give clues as to what kind of device was tested.
It took about 55 days after the last test to be able to determine the exact nature of it, our correspondent says. Correspondents say it took about 55 days after the last test to be able to determine the exact nature of it.