22 Sep 2017

North Korean offical says H. bomb possible in Pacific

8:04 pm on 22 September 2017

The North Korean foreign minister says his government may consider testing a hydrogen bomb of unprecedented scale in the Pacific ocean.

A file photo from July 2014 shows an atomic bomb explosion in Bikini Atoll.

A file photo from July 2014 shows an atomic bomb explosion in Bikini Atoll. Photo: STF / AFP

Ri Yong Ho was speaking in New York to reporters from South Korea's Yonhap news agency who asked him to clarify a threat made by his leader against the United States.

Kim Jong-un had warned of the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history."

Mr Ri said North Korea could consider a hydrogen bomb test, although he qualified this by saying he did not know Kim's exact thoughts.