White House: Early Analysis ‘Not Consistent’ With North Korea Hydrogen Bomb Test Claim

A South Korean army soldier watches a TV screen showing a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had ... A South Korean army soldier watches a TV screen showing a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb test, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would put Pyongyang a big step closer toward improving its still-limited nuclear arsenal. The letters read: " About 4.3-magnitude earthquake was detected in North Korea. " (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) MORE LESS
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the U.S. government’s early analysis of underground activity in North Korea “is not consistent” with that country’s claim of having conducted a successful hydrogen bomb test.

Spokesman Josh Earnest also says nothing has happened to change the U.S. government’s assessment of North Korea’s technical or military capabilities.

He says the U.S. government is still doing the work that’s needed to learn more about the nuclear test North Korea claims to have conducted successfully on Wednesday.

Pyongyang’s announcement of a successful hydrogen bomb test would mark a major and unanticipated advance for its still-limited nuclear arsenal.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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