Owing to current affairs, I feel compelled to opine on the issue of North Korea's testing of nuclear bombs, or hydrogen bombs. Since I am unconcerned with which category of weapons North Korea tested, let us operate under the assumption that it was the earlier.

Given the recklessness displayed by DPRK there is a need to double the international efforts to engage it in negotiations to persuade it to go no further and roll back its nuclear programme, and for China and Russia to double down on it to restrain itself.

South Korean defence ministry claims that North Korea fired several short-range projectiles into the sea.

South Korea is to suspend operations at a jointly run industrial park in North Korea following the North's recent rocket launch and nuclear test.

South Korea and Japan echo US warnings that North Korea would pay a heavy price if it pushes ahead with a planned rocket launch just weeks after conducting its fourth nuclear test.