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| US 'opposes' nuclear North Korea | US 'opposes' nuclear North Korea |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US "will not accept" a nuclear-armed North Korea, the country's defence secretary has told a meeting of his Asian counterparts. | The US "will not accept" a nuclear-armed North Korea, the country's defence secretary has told a meeting of his Asian counterparts. |
| Speaking in Singapore, Robert Gates said Washington would "not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target". | Speaking in Singapore, Robert Gates said Washington would "not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target". |
| Earlier, the US said activity in the North could indicate plans for a new long-range missile test. | |
| Vehicle movements resembled the build-up to a test last month, the US said. | Vehicle movements resembled the build-up to a test last month, the US said. |
| Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Mr Gates made it clear the US would take an extremely dim view of more nuclear or missile testing by North Korea. | |
| "The truth of the matter is if they continue on the path they are on, I think the consequences for stability in the region are significant. | |
| "I think it poses the potential for some kind of an arms race here in this region. | |
| "We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in the region or | |
| on us," Mr Gates added. | |
| But he insisted the next step in negating Pyongyang's ambitions would be political, not military. | |
| New test concerns | |
| Before Mr Gates spoke, defence officials in Washington said US satellite photos had revealed vehicle activity at a site in North Korea used to fire long-range missiles. | |
| The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US was closely monitoring the North's missile sites and other sensitive facilities. | The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US was closely monitoring the North's missile sites and other sensitive facilities. |
| However, a Pentagon official told the BBC that the US had noticed this type of activity on previous occasions which did not always lead to a missile being fired. | However, a Pentagon official told the BBC that the US had noticed this type of activity on previous occasions which did not always lead to a missile being fired. |
| The official said activity at this site had been going on for more than a couple of days, but did not know for how long exactly. | The official said activity at this site had been going on for more than a couple of days, but did not know for how long exactly. |
| On Friday, Pyongyang also fired a short-range missile off its east coast. | On Friday, Pyongyang also fired a short-range missile off its east coast. |