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North Korea conducts nuclear test North Korea conducts nuclear test
(40 minutes later)
North Korea has staged a "successful" underground nuclear test, the state-run KCNA agency reports.North Korea has staged a "successful" underground nuclear test, the state-run KCNA agency reports.
The agency says it was more powerful than the previous one in October 2006.The agency says it was more powerful than the previous one in October 2006.
South Korea's president has convened an emergency security meeting and Japan is setting up a task force in the prime minister's office. US President Barack Obama described the North Korean action as a threat to international peace. Crisis talks were being held in South Korea.
Just hours later, North Korea appeared to have test-fired a short-range missile, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Just hours after the test, North Korea appeared to have test-fired a short-range missile, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
Pyongyang has so far not commented on Yonhap's report. Pyongyang has so far not commented on Yonhap's unconfirmed report.
Following the announcement of North Korea's latest nuclear test on Monday, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said Tokyo would respond "in a responsible fashion" at the UN, without giving further details. Preparations for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council later on Monday are under way.
Russia's UN ambassador said an emergency meeting of the Security Council would be held later on Monday. 'Safeguarding sovereignty'
An official communique read out on North Korean state radio said another round of underground nuclear testing had been "successfully conducted... as part of measures to enhance the Republic's self-defensive nuclear deterrent in all directions".
NUCLEAR CRISIS Oct 2006 - North Korea conducts an underground nuclear testFeb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aidJune 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactorJune 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assetsOct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorismDec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aidJan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent"April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite25 May 2009 - North Korea conducts a second nuclear test Engage, appease, oppose? N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North KoreaNUCLEAR CRISIS Oct 2006 - North Korea conducts an underground nuclear testFeb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aidJune 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactorJune 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assetsOct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorismDec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aidJan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent"April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite25 May 2009 - North Korea conducts a second nuclear test Engage, appease, oppose? N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North Korea
The military in South Korea formed a crisis team and went into emergency talks. It said the test had been "safely conducted at a new high level in terms of explosive power and control technology".
In Washington, a state department spokesman said officials were checking the report, "but we're not able to confirm at this time". The test would "contribute to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism", the communique said.
The US Geological Survey said a 4.7-magnitude quake was detected at 0054 GMT, 10km (six miles) underground.
Geological agencies in both South Korea and the US said the tremor indicated a nuclear explosion, and the Russian defence ministry also confirmed a test had taken place.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said Tokyo would respond "in a responsible fashion" at the UN, without giving further details.
The European Union said that the development was "very worrying".The European Union said that the development was "very worrying".
Russia's UN ambassador said an emergency meeting of the Security Council would be held later on Monday.
Washington - which says it is still analysing the available data on the test - had already warned of consequences if North Korea went ahead with a threatened nuclear test.
South Korea's stock market fell 4% on the news, over fears that regional tensions would rise.South Korea's stock market fell 4% on the news, over fears that regional tensions would rise.
The test is bound to bring widespread international condemnation, the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says. Rocket condemnation
'Problems resolved' The North gave no details of the location of the test.
On Monday, KCNA said North Korea's test had been "aimed at strengthening its self-defence nuclear deterrent in every way".
"The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control."
It said the results resolved "scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology".
The report gave no details of the location of the test.
However, South Korean officials said earlier that a seismic tremor was detected in the north-eastern part around the town of Kilju - the site of North Korea's first nuclear test.However, South Korean officials said earlier that a seismic tremor was detected in the north-eastern part around the town of Kilju - the site of North Korea's first nuclear test.
Both South Korea's and the US geological agencies said the tremor on Monday morning indicated a nuclear explosion.
The US Geological Survey said the 4.7-magnitude quake was detected at 0054 GMT. It happened 10km (six miles) below the surface.
Last month, Pyongyang pulled out of six-party talks on its nuclear programme, in protest against international condemnation of its test-firing of a rocket on 5 April.Last month, Pyongyang pulled out of six-party talks on its nuclear programme, in protest against international condemnation of its test-firing of a rocket on 5 April.
The UN Security Council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests.The UN Security Council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests.
Pyongyang says its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a missile test.Pyongyang says its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a missile test.
The six-party talks - involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas - have stalled over the failure of Pyongyang to verify the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear plant.The six-party talks - involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas - have stalled over the failure of Pyongyang to verify the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear plant.
North Korea agreed to dismantle the facility as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal and, in response, the US removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist. North Korea had agreed to dismantle the facility as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal and, in response, the US removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist.
But the North now believes it is no longer bound by its previous bilateral agreements with the US and agreements under the six-party talks, reports the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul, South Korea.
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