North Korea confirms third nuclear test

[Reece]

North Korea has carried out a third nuclear test in defiance of United Nations warnings.

The move prompted criticism from its sole major ally, China, and condemnation around the world.

The North Korean news agency said the underground test used a smaller, lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than before.

Observers say that if correct, it could take Pyongyang closer to building a warhead small enough to arm a missile.

The UN Security Council will meet at 14:00 GMT to discuss the test and its ramifications, diplomats say.North Korea had previously conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. It announced last month that it would conduct a third as a response to UN sanctions that were expanded after a December rocket launch, a move condemned by the UN as a banned test of missile technology.

Activity had been observed at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site for several months.

Seismic activity was then detected by monitoring agencies from several nations at 11:57 (02:57 GMT) on Tuesday morning. A shallow earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 was recorded, the US Geological Survey said.

Confirmation of the test came three hours later in a statement from state-run KCNA news agency.

"It was confirmed that the nuclear test, that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturised and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously, did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," it said.

North Korea said the nuclear test - which comes on the eve of US President Barack Obama's State of the Union address - was to "to protect our national security and sovereignty against the reckless hostility of the United States".

It is the first such test under new leader Kim Jong-un, who took over the leadership after his father Kim Jong-il died in December 2011.

'Provocative'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the test as a "clear and grave violation" of UN resolutions and a "deeply destabilising" provocation.
Mr Obama said the test was a "highly provocative act", and called for "swift" and "credible" international action in response.

China expressed "firm opposition" to its ally's test.

Both South Korea and Japan convened emergency meetings of their national security teams.

"This is an unacceptable threat to the security of the Korean peninsula and north-east Asia, and a challenge to the whole international community," South Korea's presidential national security adviser Chun Young-woo said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "It is a grave threat to our nation's safety and cannot be tolerated as it will significantly damage international society's peace and safety."

Britain called for a "robust response" from the UN Security Council.

French President Francois Hollande condemned the test and said Paris would back firm action by the UN Security Council.

But the BBC's Lucy Williamson, in Seoul, says the trouble, as ever, is what the international community can do in response without triggering an even bigger crisis - North Korea is already tied up in layers of sanctions which do not seem to have have any impact.

She adds that some in Washington have talked of maybe targeting North Korean financial interests, but the only real pressure is seen to lie with China. By defying the UN and launching its nuclear test now, our correspondent says, Pyongyang is giving the new leadership in Beijing a very public test of its own.

[Mikal]

Does North Korea still exist or have they obliterated themselves yet?

[Jellyfish]

This has been running on the news all day long. At some point North Korea has to realize they're pissing a lot of people off, unless that's what they aimed for.

[Cofiliano]

Yes, North Korea is 'pissing people off' cause they're showing off their power, without which, they would get invaded by the USA/NATO in the same scenario we have watched 352523523 times till now, all around the world.

They have the right to do it, since its their soil, USA, NATO and the rest can simply fuck off now, cause its obvious that after a long time, they're the one moaning and being scared, I hope they enjoy the feeling.

What goes around comes around.

Push the button
The Chemical Brothers- Galvanize

[yoske]

Well, you have to find a way to protect yourself in this evil times... If Pakistan, India, Isreal and few more can have nuclear weapons why can't NC?

[Dolfagr]

Well, you have to find a way to protect yourself in this evil times... If Pakistan, India, Isreal and few more can have nuclear weapons why can't NC?

I doubt they even plan to use nuclear weapons in matter of fact. As Cofi said, they're showing off their strength in order to protect their soil from foreign terrorist invasions similar to others we've seen. NATO can just sit quiet and do nothing.

[Teddy]

Does North Korea still exist or have they obliterated themselves yet?

I'm waiting for the "ooops", I guess it only a matter of time.

Yes, North Korea is 'pissing people off' cause they're showing off their power, without which, they would get invaded by the USA/NATO in the same scenario we have watched 352523523 times till now, all around the world.

They have the right to do it, since its their soil, USA, NATO and the rest can simply f**k off now, cause its obvious that after a long time, they're the one moaning and being scared, I hope they enjoy the feeling.

What goes around comes around.

They aren't "showing power"... they are threatening nuclear action against another country, which would put innocent lives in danger, by which I mean their own because that missile wouldn't leave the Korean peninsula and the retaliation would be quick. The bigger picture isn't so innocent now is it?

[Mikal]

Yes, North Korea is 'pissing people off' cause they're showing off their power, without which, they would get invaded by the USA/NATO in the same scenario we have watched 352523523 times till now, all around the world.

They have the right to do it, since its their soil, USA, NATO and the rest can simply f**k off now, cause its obvious that after a long time, they're the one moaning and being scared, I hope they enjoy the feeling.

What goes around comes around.

At the end of the day N.Korea want's the USA's head and everyone knows that, the USA is simply protecting themselves by preventing N.Korea from advancing their military technology.

[Cofiliano]

@Teddy, No. Lets not act dumb.

@ Mikal, No USA wants their head. They're showing balls not to mess around with them, that's it.


You two are brainwashed, no point in discussing, dont act stupid on who's the biggest bully country in the world, trying to constantly force its killing capitalism in all free countries that don't have that cancer in it.

Do a international poll on who's the worlds bigger bully N.Korea, or USA see what happens.

[Teddy]

@Teddy, No. Lets not act dumb.

@ Mikal, No USA wants their head. They're showing balls not to mess around with them, that's it.


You two are brainwashed, no point in discussing, dont act stupid on who's the biggest bully country in the world, trying to constantly force its killing capitalism in all free countries that don't have that cancer in it.

Do a international poll on who's the worlds bigger bully N.Korea, or USA see what happens.

I'm not denying the United States sticks its nose where ever it pleases, please don't put words in my mouth. Brainwashed? Clearly you don't read the news around the world. I don't watch US mainstream news, I know its filled with filth. For your information, most of the news I read is overseas and not always even in English. You are going to defend North Korea making threats to a country it stands no chance against? If they want nuclear technology for power, by all means.. nobody should be able to deny them that. However, we all know that isn't the intention of North Korea... they have made it quite clear their intentions and there is no denying they will not succeed.

The United States wants nothing with North Korea, not sure if you'd notice but we're more preoccupied without our own issues in the current times. We have a war without our own country, that has got even the CIA focused on domestic concerns of illegal weapon trade and such. We are also withdrawing troops from one overseas war and monitoring about a hundred other countries as I've not denied the United States is a world super-power, and respectfully so it gets involved commonly with military force when most its un-needed... no denying that. Yet, North Korea wasn't actually directly told to cease by the United Nations... also not sure if you are aware but the United Nations is more than one country, and its security counsel is more than one country the defined actions of the United Nations is not the common interest and action of the United States by rather the majority of the world counties representative in the United Nations.

[Alan.Wake]

The United States wants nothing with North Korea, not sure if you'd notice but we're more preoccupied without our own issues in the current times.

Yes, say that to Vietnam or the invasion of Korea back during the Cold War.

[JayL]

You people are assuming that North Korea doesn't know launching a nuclear attack against the USA would mean their own end.

Their whole objective is to be strong enough to deter any invasion to their own soil, and they have already grown strong enough to do that.

[ElMartu]

At the end of the day N.Korea want's the USA's head and everyone knows that, the USA is simply protecting themselves by preventing N.Korea from advancing their military technology.

You people are assuming that North Korea doesn't know launching a nuclear attack against the USA would mean their own end.

Their whole objective is to be strong enough to deter any invasion to their own soil, and they have already grown strong enough to do that.

ok

[Teddy]

Yes, say that to Vietnam or the invasion of Korea back during the Cold War.

The United States wants nothing with North Korea, not sure if you'd notice but we're more preoccupied without our own issues in the current times.

See what you missed?

You people are assuming that North Korea doesn't know launching a nuclear attack against the USA would mean their own end.

Their whole objective is to be strong enough to deter any invasion to their own soil, and they have already grown strong enough to do that.

I'm not assuming, I know North Korea knows launching an attack against any county would render their end. To be honest, they might be able to defend off their own country but if they want to show they are able to do so, they shouldn't be pointing "nuclear" threats at the United States.

[Reece]

North Korea warns it will take stronger action unless US hostility ends

North Korea has reacted angrily to global condemnation of its nuclear test, warning it would follow up with "stronger" actions unless the US ended its hostility towards the regime.

"This nuclear test was only the first response we took with maximum restraint," an unnamed spokesman for the North Korean foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

"If the United States continues to come out with hostility and complicates the situation, we will be forced to take stronger, second and third responses in consecutive steps." The agency did not say what those steps might be.

China joined the US, Japan, South Korea and other countries in condemning the test, the third North Korea has conducted since 2006.

China, whose patience with the unpredictable state appears to be wearing thin, summoned the North Korean ambassador and delivered a stern protest.

The Chinese foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, said Beijing was "strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed" to the test and urged the North to end its bellicose rhetoric and "or acts that could worsen the situation, and return to the right course of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible".

Analysts said the test had embarrassed China, the North's only ally and its biggest aid donor. "The test is hugely insulting to China, which now can be expected to follow through with threats to impose sanctions," Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told Reuters.

North Korea's diplomats blasted UN resolutions, calling on it to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, and blamed Washington for the "gloomy" prospects for denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula.

"The US and their followers are sadly mistaken if they miscalculate [North Korea] would respect the entirely unreasonable resolutions against it. [North Korea] will never bow to any resolutions," Jon Yong-ryong, first secretary of North Korea's mission in Geneva, told the Conference on Disarmament

The test, which took place in the north-east of the country just before noon local time, could bring North Korea closer to developing a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile and possibly bringing the west coast of the US within striking distance.

The authorities in Pyongyang said scientists had set off a "miniaturised" nuclear device with a greater explosive force than those used in two previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009.

"It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturised and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," the KCNA announced.

The agency said the test had been in response to "outrageous" US hostility that "violently" undermined the regime's right to peacefully launch satellites – a reference to the condemnation and tighter sanctions that greeted Pyongyang's successful rocket launch almost two months ago.

Tuesday's test was quickly condemned by the UN general secretary, Ban Ki-moon, who said it was "deplorable" that Pyongyang had defied international calls to abandon it, adding that it was a "clear and grave violation of the relevant UN security council resolutions".

Barack Obama said the test was a highly provocative act that violated security council resolutions and posed a threat to US and international security. The US president called for "further swift and credible action by the international community" against North Korea.

William Hague, the UK foreign secretary, joined the international chorus of condemnation and warned North Korea faced further isolation if it did not stop developing its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Diplomats said the UN security council was convening an emergency meeting in response, although with so many sanctions in place against the regime after previous nuclear tests and rocket launches it is not clear what options remain open to the international community.

Any push for a fresh round of sanctions could take weeks. The US, South Korea, Japan and European nations are expected to call for further sanctions against the North for defying previous security council resolutions banning it from testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology.

A UN body that monitors nuclear tests said earlier it had detected an "unusual seismic event" in North Korea. "The event shows clear explosion-like characteristics and its location is roughly congruent with the 2006 and 2009 [North Korea] nuclear tests," said Tibor Tóth, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation in Vienna.

The agency said it constituted "a clear threat to international peace and security, and challenges efforts made to strengthen global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular by ending nuclear testing".

Seismic activity had been picked up by the US geological survey and monitoring stations in South Korea. It appeared to be a more powerful blast than the North's two previous tests.

Experts in South Korea, the US and Japan put the quake at magnitudes of between 4.7 and 5.2. Earthquakes of magnitude 3.9 and 4.5 respectively were detected in the North's 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests. The US geological survey said Tuesday's seismic activity had been magnitude 4.9.

The South Korean government raised its military alert level, while Japan was preparing to dispatch military aircraft to look for signs of atmospheric radiation.

Tensions have been running high in the region since North Korea threatened to conduct a nuclear test in protest at fresh UN sanctions imposed after the regime successfully launched a satellite into orbit in mid-December.

The North again raised the diplomatic stakes when its most powerful military body, the National Defence Commission, warned its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes were targeted at the US.

Any progress the North makes in its missile and nuclear programmes is a cause for concern, although it is thought to be some way off having the ability to produce a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a reliable long-range missile.

North Korea has enough plutonium to build between four and eight nuclear weapons, according to Siegfried Hecker, a nuclear scientist who visited the country's main Yongbyon nuclear complex in 2010.

Other reports suggest the country has enough fissile material for about a dozen plutonium warheads. In 2009, the regime said it would begin enriching uranium, giving it another means of building a nuclear arsenal.

Speculation had been mounting that this third test could involve a uranium device – a clear signal that North Korea's scientists have mastered the ability to produce highly enriched uranium.

In October 2012, a spokesman from the North's national defence commission told state media the country had built a missile capable of striking the US but did not provide further details. A missile featured in an April 2012 military parade appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile but its authenticity has not been verified by foreign experts.

Daniel Pinkston of the International Crisis Group in Seoul said: "The question is whether things could spiral. I agree there should be some costs and consequences, but as far as believing the consequences should deter them – I think that's wishful thinking.

"The [North Koreans] view the world as hostile and menacing; and if even China is hostile, then even more so. Other people might think OK, they will be more cautious and have second thoughts because even China will take action. But, from their point of view, it reaffirms why they need [a nuclear programme]. When the world is like this, do you not want to be a nuclear power?"