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| N Korea warned over nuclear test | N Korea warned over nuclear test |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A North Korean nuclear test would be a "provocative act", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said. | A North Korean nuclear test would be a "provocative act", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said. |
| Speaking in Cairo, she said the US would have to assess its options should North Korea's threat be carried out. | Speaking in Cairo, she said the US would have to assess its options should North Korea's threat be carried out. |
| South Korea also condemned the move, saying it would not tolerate nuclear arms on its northern neighbour's soil. | South Korea also condemned the move, saying it would not tolerate nuclear arms on its northern neighbour's soil. |
| North Korea did not give a date for its test, which was announced on state TV, but said it would boost security in the face of US military hostility. | North Korea did not give a date for its test, which was announced on state TV, but said it would boost security in the face of US military hostility. |
| Japan and Russia, who have been involved in six-party talks with Pyongyang, have also expressed concern. | Japan and Russia, who have been involved in six-party talks with Pyongyang, have also expressed concern. |
| And a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a test would only provoke universal condemnation and do nothing towards strengthening North Korea's security. | And a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a test would only provoke universal condemnation and do nothing towards strengthening North Korea's security. |
| The US and China have also been part of the talks, which have been stalled for a year. | The US and China have also been part of the talks, which have been stalled for a year. |
| China, one of North Korea's few allies, has called for fresh multi-party negotiations. | China, one of North Korea's few allies, has called for fresh multi-party negotiations. |
| It would be a threat to peace that is absolutely unforgivable Taro AsoJapanese Foreign Minister In quotes: World reaction | It would be a threat to peace that is absolutely unforgivable Taro AsoJapanese Foreign Minister In quotes: World reaction |
| The Chinese have, like the South Koreans, been advocating quiet diplomacy in efforts to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, but both countries joined in condemning ballistic missile tests it conducted in the Sea of Japan earlier this year. | The Chinese have, like the South Koreans, been advocating quiet diplomacy in efforts to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, but both countries joined in condemning ballistic missile tests it conducted in the Sea of Japan earlier this year. |
| 'Grave threat' | 'Grave threat' |
| North Korean diplomat Pak Myong-guk told the BBC that Pyongyang had been compelled to act by ceaseless pressure from the United States, which he accused of intentionally aggravating the situation. | |
| But South Korea urged the North to scrap the test programme and return to the talks. | |
| KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005: Hailed as an historic breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test N Korean statement on test N Korea nuclear timeline | KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005: Hailed as an historic breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test N Korean statement on test N Korea nuclear timeline |
| "We express grave concern and regret," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho. "We reaffirm that we won't tolerate North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons," Foreign Ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said. | "We express grave concern and regret," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho. "We reaffirm that we won't tolerate North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons," Foreign Ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said. |
| The US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, said he would be raising the nuclear issue with the Security Council and hoped for a strong response similar to the one following missile tests. | The US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, said he would be raising the nuclear issue with the Security Council and hoped for a strong response similar to the one following missile tests. |
| "Given the very strong action by the council in July in condemning the North Korean ballistic missile tests, I think it's important that we're prepared to follow up here," he said. | "Given the very strong action by the council in July in condemning the North Korean ballistic missile tests, I think it's important that we're prepared to follow up here," he said. |
| But China said it would be better to revive the six-nation talks, which stalled almost a year ago. | But China said it would be better to revive the six-nation talks, which stalled almost a year ago. |
| "If the six-party talks cannot do anything about it, I don't think the Council is in a [position] to do it," China's envoy to the UN, Wang Guangya, told reporters. | "If the six-party talks cannot do anything about it, I don't think the Council is in a [position] to do it," China's envoy to the UN, Wang Guangya, told reporters. |
| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the nuclear test plans were unacceptable and would be met "harshly". | Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the nuclear test plans were unacceptable and would be met "harshly". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It is of concern to the whole world that North Korea should want to test nuclear weapons Steve, Chippenham Send us your comments North Korea is thought to have developed a handful of warheads but never before announced it would test one. | HAVE YOUR SAY It is of concern to the whole world that North Korea should want to test nuclear weapons Steve, Chippenham Send us your comments North Korea is thought to have developed a handful of warheads but never before announced it would test one. |
| US and South Korean reports suggest the North has at least one underground test site. | US and South Korean reports suggest the North has at least one underground test site. |
| The North appears increasingly angry at sanctions imposed by the US and other countries on North Korean businesses accused of arms sales and illegal activities. | The North appears increasingly angry at sanctions imposed by the US and other countries on North Korean businesses accused of arms sales and illegal activities. |
| In 2002, it restarted its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and forced two UN nuclear monitors to leave the country. | In 2002, it restarted its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and forced two UN nuclear monitors to leave the country. |
| It is unclear how far work has progressed at the plant since then. | It is unclear how far work has progressed at the plant since then. |