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White House analysis casts doubt on North Korea's nuclear test claims

North Korea says it has successfully conducted a test of a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear device on Wednesday morning.

However, the White House has said initial analysis of the reported nuclear test is not consistent with claims of a successful hydrogen bomb.

In a statement the country said it would continue to strengthen its nuclear programme as long as the US maintained what it called "its stance of aggression."

Much of the international community has condemned North Korea after the claim, including China, the country's major ally, and Britain, which said the move was a "provocation".

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US: North Korea's bomb claims 'looks like a provocation'

US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan Credit: Reuters

North Korea's hydrogen bomb test claims "look like a provocation" but "we don't know the facts yet", the US House Speaker said.

Paul Ryan said: "We don't know that he facts yet. This looks like a provocation."

US politician Adam Schiff added it will likely take several days for the intelligence community to evaluate the validity of North Korea's hydrogen bomb test claims.

Mr Schiff, part of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, was sceptical of Pyongyang's announcement.

He said in a statement: "Given North Korea's often boastful claims in the past, its assertion that it has mastered the science necessary for a thermonuclear explosion cannot be accepted uncritically."

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White House analysis casts doubt on North Korea's nuclear test claims

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