Gregory Korte, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The White House expressed skepticism of
White House Press Secretary
Intelligence agencies were continuing to examine new evidence, Earnest said, and he acknowledged that seismic activity was consistent with some kind of atomic detonation. But he noted that independent analysts around the world had expressed “significant and understandable skepticism of the claims of the North Korean regime” that it had a more advanced hydrogen bomb.
North Korea's nuclear claims prompted a flurry of diplomatic activity Wednesday. President Obama is expected to speak to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Also, National Security Adviser Susan Rice met with the Chinese Ambassador to the United States at the White House Wednesday, and Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken will travel to the region next week.
The message, Earnest said, is to reassure regional allies that the United States remains committed to their security. But he also observed that the condemnation of North Korea was coming not only from U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea, but also rivals like China and Russia.
“What is true is that North Korea continues to be one of the most isolated nations in the world, and their isolation has only deepened as they’ve sought to engage in increasingly provocative acts,” Earnest said.
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