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Over 1,000 conscripts in the South Korean armed forces have asked to extend their service following North Korea's alleged H-bomb test last week, it's emerged.

Some 900 serving in the South's army and 150 Marines have applied to postpone their discharge as tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula, . According to Seoul's defence ministry, the majority of those applying are troops in frontline areas along the heavily-fortified 38th Parallel which separates the two countries. The Koreas are technically still in a state of war since the 1950-53 conflict, and all South Korean males between the ages of 18-35 must undergo compulsory national service. Army and Marine service lasts for 21 months, among the longest in the world.

However, while applauding the soldiers' zeal, it's likely that the ministry - which can extend national service by up to three months - will decline most of the applications. "We welcome the soldiers' bravery, but we concluded that this crisis isn't as serious as last year's," a spokesman told Chosun Ilbo, referring to a mine explosion in August 2015 which injured two South Korean soldiers.

Tensions are running high in the region after North Korea detonated what it claimed to be a hydrogen bomb last week, though experts say that the test was likely a failure. Pyongyang also claimed the successful launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, but video analysis suggests that the test ; while on 13 January, the South fired warning shots at a drone which crossed the border.

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