World leaders have condemned the actions of rogue state North Korea after it was announced via their news channels they had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb on January 6.

Though the claims have been met with some skepticism, the blast registered 5.1 on the Richter scale.

Bruce Haigh, former Australian diplomat described the test as a disturbing development and said world leaders must work to engage North Korea and bring it out of isolation.

‘The rest of the world is going to have to try and engage in such a way with North Korea that they can get them to come into the mainstream, which as you know will be difficult,’ he told Justin and Kate

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has described the secretive state as a continuing threat to international peace and security. In a statement released on January 06, she said ‘Australia condemns in the strongest possible terms the provocative and dangerous behaviour of the North Korean regime.’ 

Mr Haigh said that though popular culture often sees North Korean figurehead Kim Jong Un as a comical figure, he should be treated with caution.

‘He’s got the hydrogen bomb,’ responded Mr Haigh, ‘you’ve got to take this person seriously.’

Watch: North Korea announces via a news bulletin that an h-bomb test was successfully conducted

Listen as former Australian diplomat Bruce Haigh speaks with Justin and Kate