N Korea: What is a H-bomb, has the reclusive country joined the thermonuclear club?

There are two types of nuclear weapons, and North Korea now appears to have developed the more potent variety much faster than anyone anticipated.Key points:

Atomic or “A-bombs” work on the principle of nuclear fission, where energy is released by splitting atoms Hydrogen or “H-bombs”, also known as thermonuclear weapons, work on fusion and are far more powerful North Korea’s latest nuke test was thought to be a H-bomb.

Of the six atomic weapons tests the rogue nation has conducted since 2006, the first five most likely used conventional “atom bombs”.But North Korea’s effort on Sunday has observers concerned it has joined the thermonuclear club — those nations in possession of a hydrogen bomb.If so, Kim Jong-un is now wielding a weapon much more powerful than before.

The devastating nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during World War II were “fission” weapons, and exploded with a force of between 15 and 20 kilotons…

Source: North Korea: What exactly is a H-bomb, and has the reclusive country joined the thermonuclear club? – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)