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N Korea warned over nuclear test China asks for calm over N Korea
(about 2 hours later)
A North Korean nuclear test would be a "provocative act", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said. China has appealed for calm following North Korea's announcement that it planned to test a nuclear bomb.
Speaking in Cairo, she said the US would have to assess its options should North Korea's threat be carried out. "We hope that North Korea will exercise necessary calm and restraint," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said, urging other states not to escalate tensions.
South Korea also condemned the move, saying it would not tolerate nuclear arms on its northern neighbour's soil. North Korea announced the test on state TV, saying it would boost security in the face of US 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. The US said such an action would be "provocative", while Japan said it would be "unacceptable".
Japan and Russia, who have been involved in six-party talks with Pyongyang, have also expressed concern. The US has already indicated it would raise the issue with the UN Security Council, but Beijing says the issue should be handled by ongoing six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
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. It would be a threat to peace that is absolutely unforgivable Taro AsoJapanese Foreign Minister href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5402506.stm" class="">In quotes: World reaction These talks have been stalled for almost a year, with Pyongyang refusing to return to the table unless the US first lifts financial sanctions.
The US and China have also been part of the talks, which have been stalled for a year. Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months, after the North conducted internationally condemned ballistic missile tests, little progress has been made.
China, one of North Korea's few allies, has called for fresh multi-party negotiations. China, the nearest the North has to an ally, has often advocated quiet diplomacy in efforts to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme.
It would be a threat to peace that is absolutely unforgivable Taro AsoJapanese Foreign Minister href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5402506.stm" class="">In quotes: World reaction But other countries involved in the six-nation talks - notably the US and Japan - have frequently taken a more hardline stance.
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. International outcry
'Grave threat' North Korea said that it would conduct the nuclear test to prove its claim that it is an atomic nuclear power.
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. Pyongyang did not give a date for its planned nuclear test, but North Korean diplomat Pak Myong-guk told the BBC that the country had been forced to act because of Washington's stance.
But South Korea urged the North to scrap the test programme and return to the talks. "These kinds of threats of nuclear war and sanctions and pressure by the United States compel us to conduct a nuclear test," he said.
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 href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5402292.stm" class="">N Korean statement on test href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm" class="">N Korea nuclear timeline But there was little sympathy among the international community for Pyongyang's reasons.
"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. Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament on Wednesday that Tokyo "simply could not accept if North Korea were to conduct a nuclear test".
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. 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 href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5402292.stm" class="">N Korean statement on test href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm" class="">N Korea nuclear timeline "It would be a very provocative act by the North Koreans," added US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice .
South Korea warned that it might abandon its long policy of pursuing engagement with the North if the tests went ahead.
Russia and various other European nations 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.
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 the missile tests earlier this year.
"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". Nuclear capabilities
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.