North Korea tests an H-bomb

North Korea says it has successfully conducted a test of a miniaturised hydrogen bomb.
The announcement on North Korean state TV followed the detection of a 5.1
magnitude earthquake near its known nuclear site.
The channel released these photographs of leader Kim Jong Un signing the order
approving the trial. If true, this would be the fourth nuclear test by the isolated country,
which is under US and UN sanctions for its nuclear and missiles programmes.
The US Geological Survey said the recording was bigger than the three previous bombs
the country tested in 2013, 2009 and 2006.
North Korea said it would continue to strengthen its nuclear programme in order to
protect itself against the hostile policies of the US. It also said it would act as a
responsible nuclear state, vowing not to use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty
was infringed or transfer its nuclear capabilities to other parties.
While it could not confirm the claims, the White House stated that the US would
continue to "protect and defend" its allies in the region and "respond appropriately to
any and all of North Korean provocations."
Leaders across the world have also responded to the news. The Japanese Prime Minister
said the nation could not tolerate North Korea's nuclear testing, branding it a threat to
Japan's security. The British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond tweeted a response,
saying the test would be a "grave breach of UN Security Council resolutions".
Difficult words: conduct (to carry out), announcement (a formal public statement),
detection (measurement), magnitude (strength), hostile (unfriendly), policy (a
principle of action), vow (to promise), sovereignty (authority), infringe to (try to
destroy), party (a group of people), provocation (an attempt to upset someone), grave
(serious), breach (breaking a law), resolution (an opinion what you want or do not
want).

Old letter in a chimney

It's not what you would expect to find stuck up a chimney, but this letter written by a
little boy to Santa in 1943 has been found up a chimney stack in Reading. Remarkably,
it is in almost perfect condition. The letter was found completely by accident when
builders were tearing down the old chimney.
Normally, we do find stuff, like old newspapers, matchboxes, cigarettes, boxes, but
nothing, nothing like this, you know, it is in perfect condition. It was folded up, you
know, we found it like that, really. And you know, kids these days ask for a lot more
than what's on this list, so that's why we were, you know, we were surprised at that.
Lewis posted a picture of the letter on Facebook to show how times have changed, but
he never could have imagined that the person who wrote the letter would use this new
medium to get in touch.
David Haylock is the little boy who wanted chalk, slippers and any toy Santa had to
spare.
The writing looks familiar. It is mine, yes. About 73, 74 years ago. I must have put this
up the chimney to Father Christmas, and I can't wait for him to deliver.
Although his letter may not have been answered all those years ago, luckily for David,
these builders have decided in the Christmas spirit to gift him those present he longed
for when he was a little boy.
Difficult words: chimney stack (the part of a chimney that goes up above a roof),
medium (a way to communicate), spare (if you can spare something, you do not need
it), spirit (feeling).