North Korea has confirmed its test of a hydrogen bomb meant for an intercontinental ballistic missile was a 'perfect success'. The country's sixth nuclear test - 10 times more powerful than its fifth - sparked a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake which was detected in the northeast of the country where North Korea's test site Punggye-ri is located (bottom left). The hydrogen bomb test ordered by leader Kim Jong-Un was a 'meaningful' step in completing the country's nuclear weapons programme, state television said. The announcement was delivered by news anchor, Ri Chun-hee (bottom right) - who has been making announcements on Korean Central Television for more than 40 years. South Korea and Japan confirmed that the North Koreans conducted a nuclear test, with a blast powerful enough to be felt in northeastern China, but it was unclear whether the North’s claim of a hydrogen bomb was true. [Nonetheless,] it was the first test by North Korea to clearly surpass the destructive power of the atomic bombs the United States dropped on Japan in World War II.North Korea television also released photographs appearing to show Kim signing the order to carry out the country's sixth nuclear test (top right). Just hours earlier Sunday, the country claimed it has developed a more advanced nuclear weapon that has 'great destructive power'. Photos released on Sunday show the country's leader (main) inspecting a hydrogen bomb that will be loaded on a new intercontinental ballistic missile. Overhead pictures of Punggye-ri nuclear test site from August 17 (top left), published by 38 North, revealed Kim Jong-un could order a test blast 'at any time with minimal advance warning', experts said. The blast  instantly erased lingering skepticism about Pyongyang’s technical capabilities and brought the prospect of nuclear-tipped North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of devastating a major city one step closer to reality, 

Hours after the test, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned of a “massive military response” if the United States or its allies were threatened. No issue confounds analysts more than what Kim Jong-un really wants.