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Urgent talks after N Korean test Urgent talks after N Korean test
(20 minutes later)
The UN Security Council is meeting in emergency closed session shortly over North Korea's latest nuclear test after even its allies joined in condemnation. The UN Security Council is meeting in emergency closed session over North Korea's latest nuclear test after even its allies joined in criticism.
US President Barack Obama described North Korea's programme as a "grave threat" to world peace.US President Barack Obama described North Korea's programme as a "grave threat" to world peace.
China accused the North of disregarding international opinion while Moscow said it had raised tension in the region.China accused the North of disregarding international opinion while Moscow said it had raised tension in the region.
North Korea said the underground test had been part of work to bolster what it called its nuclear deterrent.North Korea said the underground test had been part of work to bolster what it called its nuclear deterrent.
It had been warning for weeks that it would strengthen the "deterrent" and walked away from long-running negotiations on its nuclear programme after the US pressed it over the verification of previous agreements. See map of test siteIt had been warning for weeks that it would strengthen the "deterrent" and walked away from long-running negotiations on its nuclear programme after the US pressed it over the verification of previous agreements. See map of test site
The blast, which was estimated by international seismologists to have the power of a 4.5 earthquake, appears to have been much more powerful than North Korea's first nuclear test, in October 2006.The blast, which was estimated by international seismologists to have the power of a 4.5 earthquake, appears to have been much more powerful than North Korea's first nuclear test, in October 2006.
Defence officials in neighbouring Russia say it was an explosion of up to 20 kilotons, making it comparable to the American bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.Defence officials in neighbouring Russia say it was an explosion of up to 20 kilotons, making it comparable to the American bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Call for calmCall for calm
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply disturbed by the underground test, not only in his UN capacity but also as a Korean.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply disturbed by the underground test, not only in his UN capacity but also as a Korean.
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 Q&A: North Korea nuclear test Korean test rocks region N Korea a problem for ObamaNUCLEAR 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 Q&A: North Korea nuclear test Korean test rocks region N Korea a problem for Obama
He said North Korea's actions were a clear violation of UN resolutions and ran counter to ongoing efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.He said North Korea's actions were a clear violation of UN resolutions and ran counter to ongoing efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.
Mr Ban said he hoped the Security Council would take what he called necessary measures.Mr Ban said he hoped the Security Council would take what he called necessary measures.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped for a "very clear and tough reaction" from the Security Council.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped for a "very clear and tough reaction" from the Security Council.
"We expect that China, Russia and the United States, Japan will continue to put all the pressures so that this regime, which is so unpredictable, becomes a predictable one, in the right direction," he added."We expect that China, Russia and the United States, Japan will continue to put all the pressures so that this regime, which is so unpredictable, becomes a predictable one, in the right direction," he added.
The international community faces a difficult task, confronting what many view as a dangerously unpredictable regime, BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn reports. Western diplomats say they hope tonight's meeting will end with a statement condemning the nuclear test and calling on the country to return to talks on getting rid of its nuclear weapons in return for aid.
After the worst harvest for a decade, the World Food Programme believe a quarter of the population of North Korea need food aid. Right now the question is whether China, North Korea's neighbour and long-time ally, will go as far as to condemn what Pyongyang has done, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from New York.
To divert attention, the government has abruptly broken off talks, test-firing both long- and short-range missiles and then carrying out the underground test, a major escalation, our correspondent says. The US, France, the UK and Japan are signalling that they want to push for a resolution later this week - the strongest form of Council action.
It could be that this change of mind is part of an internal power struggle as hardliners seek to provoke the world to justify their own repressive rule, he adds. France has suggested strengthening sanctions against North Korea.
That, perhaps, is why China called for a calm and appropriate response - angry but not so angry for Beijing to back sanctions and encourage the hardliners in North Korea. The question is whether China would back further sanctions, or see them as destabilising, our correspondent says.
A measure condemning North Korea will emerge from the UN Security Council but there are few measures available that would bring them back to negotiations and President Obama, the natural conciliator, faces a major challenge, our correspondent says.
'Stronger than 2006''Stronger than 2006'
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".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".
The time to be worried has long passed Michael, Israel (currently in the US), BBC News website reader Should the world be worried?The time to be worried has long passed Michael, Israel (currently in the US), BBC News website reader Should the world be worried?
Monitors detected the test at a depth of 10km (six miles), at 0954 (0054 GMT) on Monday.Monitors detected the test at a depth of 10km (six miles), at 0954 (0054 GMT) on Monday.
The North did not report the test site but South Korean officials placed it in the north-eastern region around the town of Kilju, the site of North Korea's first nuclear test.The North did not report the test site but South Korean officials placed it in the north-eastern region around the town of Kilju, the site of North Korea's first nuclear test.
South Korean Defence Minister Lee Sang-hee said the North had also launched two short-range missiles, one at 1208 (0308 GMT), and one at 1703 (0803 GMT).South Korean Defence Minister Lee Sang-hee said the North had also launched two short-range missiles, one at 1208 (0308 GMT), and one at 1703 (0803 GMT).
Mr Obama said the US would work with its allies around the world to "stand up to" North Korea.Mr Obama said the US would work with its allies around the world to "stand up to" North Korea.
"North Korea is not only deepening its own isolation it's also inviting stronger international pressure," he said."North Korea is not only deepening its own isolation it's also inviting stronger international pressure," he said.
NORTH KOREA'S SUSPECTED NUCLEAR TEST SITE Nuclear test on 25 May 2009 is thought to have been carried out at same site as October 2006 testNORTH KOREA'S SUSPECTED NUCLEAR TEST SITE Nuclear test on 25 May 2009 is thought to have been carried out at same site as October 2006 test
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