A stockpile of plutonium currently in Japanese possession, will be shipped to the United States by the end of March, according to media reports that are touting the shipment as a gesture of non-proliferation goodwill. nuclearstreet.com

To Republican U.S. presidential contenders, North Korea’s claim that it tested a hydrogen bomb may further make the 2016 race what they dearly want it to be: a referendum on President Barack Obama’s foreign policy and, by extension, Hillary Clinton’s. news.yahoo.com

Asia Pacific stock markets extend losses after North Korea nuclear test. Fears about Pyongyang’s threat to security added to tensions in a region plagued by uncertainty about the state of the Chinese economy. theguardian.com

A US submarine commander has lost his job after he grounded an Ohio-class guided missile submarine as it returned to port. news.sky.com