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N Korea raises threat of new test N Korea raises threat of new test
(30 minutes later)
North Korea's second most powerful leader has warned of more nuclear tests, depending on US policy towards the county, Japanese media report. North Korea's second most powerful leader has threatened more nuclear tests if the US maintains its "hostile" policy, Japanese media report.
Kim Yong-nam said the decision depended on how the US treated North Korea, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.Kim Yong-nam said the decision depended on how the US treated North Korea, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.
He said US policy was also the main factor in determining whether to return to stalled six-party talks.
The comments were the first from a senior North Korean official since the country's claimed nuclear test.The comments were the first from a senior North Korean official since the country's claimed nuclear test.
France's Defence Minister has said the explosion was so small it was either a failure or a non-nuclear explosion.
''The issue of future nuclear tests is linked to US policy toward our country,'' Kyodo quoted Mr Kim as saying.''The issue of future nuclear tests is linked to US policy toward our country,'' Kyodo quoted Mr Kim as saying.
''If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that.''''If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that.''
The comments came shortly after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that further testing may be imminent. He also said US policy was also the main factor in determining whether to return to stalled six-party talks.
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a radio interview that an "explosion of limited size" had been detected when North Korea carried out the claimed test.
"Given it's weak power, it is hard to say if it was a very large, but traditional, type of explosion or else a nuclear explosion... If it was a nuclear explosion, it was a failed explosion," she said.
"However, that does not make it any the less serious."
The comments from Pyongyang came shortly after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that further testing may be imminent.
"We have very real concerns that they may conduct another nuclear test and that they may do so very soon," he said."We have very real concerns that they may conduct another nuclear test and that they may do so very soon," he said.
The UN Security Council is currently debating a draft resolution of punitive sanctions proposed by the US.The UN Security Council is currently debating a draft resolution of punitive sanctions proposed by the US.