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Outcry at N Korea 'nuclear test' Outcry at N Korea 'nuclear test'
(20 minutes later)
North Korea's claim to have successfully tested a nuclear weapon has sparked international condemnation. North Korea's claim to have successfully carried out a nuclear weapon test underground has sparked international condemnation.
President George W Bush said the US was working to confirm the claim, which he branded a "provocative" act.President George W Bush said the US was working to confirm the claim, which he branded a "provocative" act.
Japan and South Korea also condemned the test and even Pyongyang's closest ally China expressed its "resolute opposition", calling the move "brazen". He said he and regional leaders agreed North Korea's actions were unacceptable and deserved an immediate response from the United Nations Security Council.
Members of the United Nations Security Council have begun meeting in New York to discuss their reaction. Security Council members are meeting in New York to discuss their reaction.
South Korean media said the underground test took place in Gilju in Hamgyong province at 1036 (0136 GMT). South Korean media said the test took place in Gilju in Hamgyong province at 1036 (0136 GMT).
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Nuclear test: World roundup Q&A: Nuclear stand-off Send us your comments But both the US and Japan said they had detected seismic waves. Russia said it was "100% certain" a nuclear test had occurred.N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Nuclear test: World roundup Q&A: Nuclear stand-off Send us your comments But both the US and Japan said they had detected seismic waves. Russia said it was "100% certain" a nuclear test had occurred.
The size of the bomb is uncertain. South Korean reports put it as low as 550 tons of destructive power but Russia said it was between five and 15 kilotons. The 1945 Hiroshima bomb was 12.5-15 kilotons.The size of the bomb is uncertain. South Korean reports put it as low as 550 tons of destructive power but Russia said it was between five and 15 kilotons. The 1945 Hiroshima bomb was 12.5-15 kilotons.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says North Korea's claimed test does not necessarily mean it has a fully-fledged nuclear bomb or warhead that it can deliver to a target.BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says North Korea's claimed test does not necessarily mean it has a fully-fledged nuclear bomb or warhead that it can deliver to a target.
'Unpardonable''Unpardonable'
In his first public statement on the issue, the US president said the North Korean move needed an immediate response from the UN Security Council. In his first public statement, the US president said the North Korean claim "constitutes a threat to international peace and security."
He said he had telephoned South Korean, Chinese, Russian and Japanese leaders, who had all reaffirmed their commitment to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. He said he had telephoned Chinese, Japanese, Russian and South Korean leaders, who had all reaffirmed their commitment to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.
"Once again, North Korea has defied the will of the international community, and the international community," he said. "Once again, North Korea has defied the will of the international community, and the international community will respond," he said.
He added that the nuclear test would not help North Korea's oppressed and impoverished people, who deserved a better future. We expect the UN Security Council to take immediate actions to respond to this unprovoked act Tony SnowWhite House spokesman href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6032577.stm" class="">Reaction to nuclear test href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6032597.stm" class="">Full text: N Korea statement
Japan's foreign ministry said Mr Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had spoken by telephone and agreed there should be "decisive UN action". "The North Korea regime remains one of the world's leading proliferators of missile technology including transfers to Iran and Syria."
Mr Bush added that the development would not help North Korea's "oppressed and impoverished" people, who deserved a better future.
Japan's foreign ministry said Mr Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had agreed there should be "decisive UN action".
Mr Abe, currently visiting Seoul, earlier called the claimed test "unpardonable".Mr Abe, currently visiting Seoul, earlier called the claimed test "unpardonable".
The region was "entering a new, dangerous nuclear age", Mr Abe said.The region was "entering a new, dangerous nuclear age", Mr Abe said.
We expect the UN Security Council to take immediate actions to respond to this unprovoked act Tony SnowWhite House spokesman Reaction to nuclear test Full text: N Korea statement
He said Japan and the US would step up co-operation on the missile defence system they began after a North Korean missile test in 1998.He said Japan and the US would step up co-operation on the missile defence system they began after a North Korean missile test in 1998.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said it would be "difficult" to maintain his country's policy of engagement with the North. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said it would be "difficult" to maintain his country's policy of engagement with the North. He feared the move could "spark a nuclear arms build-up in other countries".
He feared the move could "spark a nuclear arms build-up in other countries", although Japan quickly said it would maintain its ban on nuclear weapons.
The South Korean military - which has been put on a heightened state of alert - had the capability to cope with any North Korean provocation, Mr Roh said.
The head of the South's intelligence service told lawmakers it had detected more movement at a North Korean test site and he could not rule out further nuclear tests.The head of the South's intelligence service told lawmakers it had detected more movement at a North Korean test site and he could not rule out further nuclear tests.
In Seoul, about 500 protesters rallied against the claimed test, burning a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.In Seoul, about 500 protesters rallied against the claimed test, burning a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
South Korea has also suspended a scheduled aid shipment of concrete to North Korea.South Korea has also suspended a scheduled aid shipment of concrete to North Korea.
The North has relied on international help to feed its 23 million people for more than a decade and there are concerns the latest move could further compromise its ability to feed its most vulnerable people.
In an unusually strong statement against its ally, China said the claimed test "defied the universal opposition of international society".In an unusually strong statement against its ally, China said the claimed test "defied the universal opposition of international society".
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing says China's statement is an indication of how strongly it is angered by North Korea's action, although Beijing will still be loath to support tougher sanctions against Pyongyang.The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing says China's statement is an indication of how strongly it is angered by North Korea's action, although Beijing will still be loath to support tougher sanctions against Pyongyang.
'Historic event''Historic event'
When it announced the test, the North's KCNA media agency described it as an "historic event that brought happiness to our military and people".When it announced the test, the North's KCNA media agency described it as an "historic event that brought happiness to our military and people".
KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005: At first hailed as a 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 claims to have carried out nuclear test N Korea's mercurial leader N Korea nuclear timelineKOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005: At first hailed as a 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 claims to have carried out nuclear test N Korea's mercurial leader N Korea nuclear timeline
It said the test would maintain "peace and stability" in the region and was "a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous, powerful socialist nation". There was no radiation leak, it said.It said the test would maintain "peace and stability" in the region and was "a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous, powerful socialist nation". There was no radiation leak, it said.
The development comes three days after the UN Security Council agreed on a formal statement urging North Korea to cancel any planned nuclear test and return to disarmament talks.The development comes three days after the UN Security Council agreed on a formal statement urging North Korea to cancel any planned nuclear test and return to disarmament talks.
Pyongyang pulled out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 and has refused for a year to attend talks aimed at ending its nuclear ambitions.Pyongyang pulled out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 and has refused for a year to attend talks aimed at ending its nuclear ambitions.
North Korea's official media has long warned that the US was preparing to attack and developing a nuclear capability was the only way to prevent this.North Korea's official media has long warned that the US was preparing to attack and developing a nuclear capability was the only way to prevent this.
If confirmed, the test would make North Korea the ninth country known to have nuclear weapons.If confirmed, the test would make North Korea the ninth country known to have nuclear weapons.