North Korea test `grave challenge` and `serious threat`: Japan`s Abe

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea`s announcement that it had carried out a hydrogen bomb test on Wednesday.

Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea`s announcement that it had carried out a hydrogen bomb test on Wednesday, calling it a "serious threat" to Japan and a "grave challenge`" to nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

"I strongly condemn this," Abe told reporters.

"The nuclear test that was carried out by North Korea is a serious threat to the safety of our nation and we absolutely cannot tolerate this," he said.

He also said it was a "grave challenge against international efforts for non-proliferation".