Seoul Holds Talks With N Korea Denuclearization Group Over Nuke Test

Earlier in the day, Pyongyang claimed it had carried out the first test of a hydrogen bomb.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — South Korea launched consultations with the participants of the six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula following Pyongyang's hydrogen bomb test, local media reported Wednesday.

According to Yonhap news agency, Hwang Joon-kook, a Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs held phone talks with US Special Representative for North Korea Policy Sung Kim and Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Kimihiro Ishikane.

The diplomats exchanged views on the current situation with the North Korean nuclear program and discussed a possible reaction of the UN Security Council on Pyongyang's nuclear claim.

According to the outlet, Hwang Joon-kook also discussed the situation with Russian Ambassador to Seoul Alexander Timonin.

In 2003, Pyongyang joined negotiations on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula with the United States, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea, having earlier withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that it ratified in 1985. However, the negotiations did not lead to any success.

In 2005, North Korea declared itself a nuclear power, and conducted several nuclear weapon tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, sparking concerns in the international community.