North Korean celebrates successful hydrogen bomb missile test with huge street party

Thousands of residents and military leaders hailed scientists who were paraded as heroes

BySteve RobsonRachael Burford

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Pyongyang welcomes scientists & technicians behind its biggest nuclear test

North Korean celebrated the firing of its most deadly missile test yet with a huge street party.
On Sunday, the Kim Jong-Un regime claimed it had tested a hydrogen bomb, setting off a 6.3 earthquake.
Hours earlier, Jong-Un was pictured inspected what looked like a nuclear warhead being placed inside a missile.
The reckless despot appears intent on pushing the country closer and closer to military conflict with the West.
But on Wednesday, pictures released by North Korea showed thousands attending a huge rally where the scientists behind the test were paraded as heroes.
There were fireworks and music as Pyongyang was draped in nationalistic flags and slogans.

Fireworks in Pyongyang to celebrate North Korea's successful H-bomb test (Image: AFP)

Thousands filled the Kim Il Sung Square (Image: AFP)

Meanwhile, neighbours South Korea said it expected the North to carry out another missile launch this week.
In response, the country's THAAD missile defence system deployment was "tentatively" completed as US Forces Korea transported four additional missile interceptor launchers to its base in Seongju, 185 miles south of Seoul .
South Korean prime minister, Lee Nak-yon, described the situation in the north as "very grave" when he met with defence minsters in Seoul on Thursday morning.
He said the country is bracing for another missile launch on Saturday, September 9, when North Korea celebrates its founding day.

South Korea's Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile is fired during an exercise aimed to counter North Korea's nuclear test on Sunday (Image: Getty Images AsiaPac)

The four THAAD missiles arrived at the new Seongju base despite protesters blocking the road (Image: REUTERS)

Today US Forces Korea transported four additional missile interceptor launchers to its base in Seongju

"The situation is very grave. It doesn't seem much time is left before North Korea achieves its complete nuclear armament," he said.
The four THAAD missiles arrived at the new Seongju base despite protesters blocking the road.
Armored riot police protected the final parts of the controversial US missile defense system as it entered.

Kim Jong Un inspects North Korean nuclear weaponisation program (Image: Barcroft Media)

North Korea will celebrate its founding day on Saturday (Image: REUTERS)

Around 400 people reportedly took to the streets in the province of Gyeongbuk, eastern South Korea.
Footage shows dense crowds gathering and police attempting to break up the disturbance.
It contrasted with scenes in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, where civilians appeared to be celebrating the successful completion of the hydrostatic test for the intercontinental ballistic rocket installation.
The US army's THAAD system is thought to be the world's most advanced interceptor and is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in their terminal phase of approaching a target.
South Korea is now set to hold talks with "relevant" neighbouring countries regarding the THAAD issue.

China and Russia have particularly protested the system, claiming it will further destabilise regional security and expand the US military influence in the area.
South Korea President Moon Jae-in met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia today.
The leaders issued a jointed statement saying that it "is the time to further increase sanctions and pressures against North Korea as much as possible rather than seeking dialogue".

Culled from Mirror