PYONGYANG, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Scientists of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have succeeded in nuclear fusion reaction, the newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Wednesday.

This success means a step forward in the development of nuclear technology.

The success is "a definite breakthrough toward the development of new energy and opened up a new phase in the nation's development of the latest science and technology," said the report, carried by the KCNA news agency.

The breakthrough was made on this year's "Day of the Sun," or the birth day of DPRK founder Kim Il-Sung, commemorated on April 15.

The Rodong Simmun report did not mention possible use of the technology for nuclear weapons.

Fusion reactions, much more powerful than fission reactions, can result in a thermonuclear explosion.

The success in nuclear fusion marks a great event that demonstrates rapid development of cutting-edge science and technology by the DPRK, the Rodong Sinmun said, adding that DPRK scientists have worked hard to develop nuclear fusion technology in their own way.

The DPRK scientists "solved a great many scientific and technological problems entirely by their own efforts," the report said.

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