WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, Pyongyang reportedly carried out its first hydrogen bomb test. The international community responded by condemning the alleged test as provocative, and undermining stability in the region. The White House said, however, that the North Koreans carried out "a nuclear test," and a preliminary analysis did not support Pyongyang claims of a successful hydrogen bomb tryout.
"We are in ongoing conversations with the South Koreans and our other allies in the region about additional steps that may or may not need to be taken in order to respond to the latest actions from the North Koreans," Cook stated in a briefing.
Cook said the United States and its allies can respond appropriately to the North Korean actions. The spokesman also underscored the "ironclad commitment" of the Obama administration to the security of South Korea.
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and conducted a series of underground nuclear weapon tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. Pyongyang's nuclear program has caused deep concern within the international community and prompted the UN Security Council to slap a series of sanctions against the country.
