North Korean leader calls for the "detonation of more powerful H-bomb in the future."

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 13, 2016, 11:25 Updated : January 13, 2016, 11:25

[Courtesy of Xinhua News]



North Korean leader Kim Jung Un called for the "detonation of more powerful H-bomb in the future,’ days after Pyongyang claimed it had successfully tested hydrogen bomb, the North’s state media said on Wednesday.

"(Kim) called for bolstering up both in quality and quantity the nuclear force capable of making nuclear strikes at the U.S.-led imperialists any time and in any space ... if they encroach upon the sovereignty of the DPRK (North Korea) and make threatening provocations," the official KCNA state news agency said.

The agency said Kim "set forth the important tasks to be fulfilled to bolster up the nuclear force," called for the "detonation of more powerful H-bomb in the future."

U.S. officials have said they believe last week’s test was a nuclear blast, but not a more powerful hydrogen bomb.

Meanwhile, The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would broaden sanctions against North Korea.

"(The bill) uses targeted financial pressure to isolate (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un and his top officials from the assets they maintain in foreign banks, and from the hard currency that sustains their rule," said Republican Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and an author of the measure.

To become law, the legislation must be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Barack Obama.

By Alex Lee
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