North Korea announced on Wednesday that it had successfully tested a miniaturised hydrogen bomb.

If the information is confirmed, this would be the fourth nuclear test conducted by North Korea since 2006 and the first time a hydrogen bomb is tested by Pyongyang.

The announcement came after an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale had been registered close to the nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, indicating that a test might have been carried out.

However international experts have expressed doubt over the nuclear capabilities of North Korea and it could take days or weeks before independent tests establish whether the claim was genuine.

In December last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that the country had developed a hydrogen bomb, but many experts were similarly sceptical.

The hydrogen bomb is more powerful than the plutonium used in previous tests as it provides more explosive power for a lighter weight.

The international community strongly condemned the 2013 test and a similar reaction is expected this time, with South Korea, Japan and the US already having criticised North Korea.

There are reports that along with the fourth nuclear test, North Korea might have also tested its capability to launch missiles from submarines, the BBC informs.

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