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(Baonghean.vn) -North Korea launches missile over Japan;India and China agree to withdraw troops from disputed area;America devastated by "super storm of the century";... lThe international news highlights of the past week; 2 million Muslims flock to Mecca for the pilgrimage;... are the international news highlights of the past week.

1. North Korea announced successful test of thermonuclear bomb

Within just one week, North Korea conducted two missile test launches. Photo: KCNA

North Korea on September 3 tested a hydrogen bomb that can be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), state television KCTV reported. The "test was a perfect success", marking a "meaningful" step in completing North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Meanwhile, KCNA news agency said the test "aimed at checking and verifying the accuracy and reliability of the power control technology and the new structure applied to the production of hydrogen bombs."

The United States, China and South Korea said there was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in northern Korea at around 03:30 GMT today. China also recorded a second earthquake of 4.6 magnitude shortly after the first.

South Korea subsequently raised its military alert level and activated its nuclear crisis response team. South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.

Japan's Defense Ministry deployed three aircraft to measure radiation. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said North Korea's actions were "unacceptable."

Previously, on August 29, North Korea launched a missile that flew over Japan.According to the South Korean military, the missile was launched from the Sunan area, near the capital Pyongyang, at around 6 a.m. on August 29. The missile flew 2,700 km and reached an altitude of 550 km above sea level.Japanese national television said the missile broke into three pieces and fell into the sea off the island of Hokkaido. The Japanese military did not attempt to shoot it down.

2. The US asked Russia to close its consulate general.

Consulate General of Russia in San Francisco

The US State Department said it has asked Russia to close its Consulate General in San Francisco, California, and two other diplomatic facilities in Washington DC and New York City.

The move is in response to Moscow's request last month that Washington cut its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia by more than half to 455 by September 1, after the US Congress backed new sanctions against Russia, according to Reuters.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Russia must complete the closure of its Consulate General in San Francisco and the two diplomatic facilities above by September 2.

Thus, Russia will only have 455 diplomatic staff in the US, equal to the number of US diplomatic staff in Russia.

Responding to the above developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that he "regrets the escalation of tension in bilateral relations".

Mr. Lavrov added that Moscow would consider the above request and respond appropriately, according to the BBC citing the announcement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Previously, the US also stopped issuing non-immigrant visas throughout Russia from August 23 to September 1.

3. India and China agree to withdraw troops from disputed areas

Tensions at Doklam have prompted China and India to mobilize thousands of troops to the area. Photo: The National Interest.

On August 28, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that India and China had agreed to withdraw troops from the Doklam plateau, which Beijing calls Donglang, where the two countries have been experiencing tensions for more than two months.

India and China have maintained diplomatic channels of communication over the Doklam standoff over the past few weeks, and the two sides have agreed to "immediately disengage troops from the area, which has already begun," an official statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.

On the same day, China also confirmed that Indian soldiers had begun withdrawing from the disputed border area. Speaking to the press, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying highly appreciated this positive development, and said that Chinese soldiers were continuing to patrol the area.

4. America devastated by "super storm of the century"

An area in Houston, Texas, submerged in water. Photo: Reuters

NgHeyAugust 27, "super storm of the century" Harvey just hit the US state of Texas with terrible winds of 210km/h, killing at least one person, injuring 14 and leaving thousands homeless.Rockport was one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey.This is the strongest storm the US has suffered in the past 12 years, since Hurricane Charley in 2004.

Thousands of people were stranded in the water and had to climb to rooftops or higher places to wait for rescue. In some places, the floodwaters reached the second floor of the house.

The torrential rains left much of the city submerged in murky water, turning streets into rivers navigable only by boat. Every hour, the storm destroyed more property and caused widespread power outages.

This is considered the strongest storm to hit Texas in more than 50 years and the strongest storm in the entire US since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Category 4 Hurricane Harvey has killed at least 1 person and injured 14 others, and caused severe flooding in the US oil and gas capital.

5. 2 million Muslims flock to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage

Pilgrims in Mecca. Photo: al Jazeera.

On August 30, nearly 2 million Muslims from all over the world flocked to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to attend the Hajj pilgrimage, which takes place from August 30 to September 4 this year. This year's pilgrimage takes place in the context of the Gulf region being in a political crisis and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) being defeated consecutively in Iraq and Syria.

To ensure this year's festival goes smoothly, Saudi Arabian authorities have increased security measures to the maximum and prepared all necessary countermeasures.

Saudi Arabian security officials said that to deal with the situation of crowds jostling and leading to stampedes that killed many people like in previous years and the risk of terrorism, this year Saudi Arabia deployed more than 100,000 security personnel who are always on high alert, ensuring security and order and using modern equipment such as installing electronic gates and modern scanners at the entrance to check licenses.

6. US-Venezuela tensions escalate dangerously

Venezuelan soldiers instruct people on how to use guns. Photo: Reuters.

US-Venezuelan relations continue to deteriorate after retaliatory moves by the two countries' authorities. Immediately after the US threatened to use military measures against Venezuela, the South American country also launched a nationwide military exercise to maintain the country's combat readiness in case of an external invasion.

Speaking at Macarao National Park in Miranda State, Western Venezuela, on August 26, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that through the exercise, Venezuela wants to tell the world that it has an armed force and a people ready to do everything to protect the country.

7. Thailand cooperates with 6 countries to hunt down former Prime Minister Yingluck

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: Reuters.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on August 29 that the country's Foreign Ministry has contacted six countries through diplomatic channels, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for assistance in hunting down Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Nation reported.

Thai authorities are also checking entry points along the border to look for Ms. Yingluck. Ms. Yingluck fled Thailand just before a court sentenced her in connection with allegations of negligence in managing a rice subsidy program for farmers, causing losses to the state budget.

Ms Yingluck is believed to have fled to Dubai, UAE, and is suspected of seeking political asylum in the UK. However, Thailand has not contacted the UK because Mr Chan-o-cha believes Ms Yingluck does not meet the criteria to be accepted.

Thai army chief Chalermchai Sitthisat said Yingluck's escape plan was carefully planned in advance and had help from Thaksin Shinawatra. Former prime minister Thaksin, Yingluck's brother, has a house in Dubai. He lives in exile there to avoid a 2008 jail sentence for corruption.

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