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North Korea 'plans third nuclear test' North Korea 'plans third nuclear test'
(35 minutes later)
North Korea says it is proceeding with plans for a third nuclear test.North Korea says it is proceeding with plans for a third nuclear test.
In a statement carried by KCNA news agency, the country's top military body said the "high-level nuclear test we will carry out" and long-range rocket launches would target the US. In a statement carried by KCNA news agency, the top military body said the "high-level nuclear test" and more long-range rocket launches were aimed at its "arch-enemy", the US.
The statement gave no time-frame for the test. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009.The statement gave no time-frame for the test. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009.
The move comes two days after a UN Security Council resolution condemned North Korea's recent rocket launch. The move comes two days after a UN Security Council resolution condemned Pyongyang's recent rocket launch.
"We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are targeted at the United States," KCNA quoted the National Defence Commission as saying. The Security Council also expanded sanctions against the communist country following its December launch, which was seen by the US and North Korea's neighbours as a banned test of long-range missile technology.
Reports suggesting North Korea could be preparing for a third nuclear test have been circulating for several weeks. Regional neighbours and the US have urged it not to proceed. North Korea said the rocket put a satellite into space.
On Tuesday the Security Council expanded sanctions against Pyongyang following its December rocket launch, seen by the US as a banned test of long-range missile technology. 'Ready'
The statement, which came from North Korea's National Defence Commission, hit out at the resolution as "illegal", before pledging a response.
"We do not hide that the various satellites and long-range rockets we will continue to launch, as well as the high-level nuclear test we will proceed with, are aimed at our arch-enemy the United States," KCNA quoted it as saying.
Recent reports from South Korean and US bodies which monitor North Korea's nuclear test sites have said North Korea could be preparing for a third test.
Earlier on Thursday, a South Korean defence ministry spokesman said it appeared that North Korea was "ready to conduct a nuclear test at anytime if its leadership decides to go ahead".
Regional neighbours and the US have urged it not to proceed.
"We hope they don't do it, we call on them not to do it. It will be a mistake and a missed opportunity if they were to do it," said Glyn Davies, the US special envoy on North Korea policy who is currently visiting Seoul.
"This is not a moment to increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
Both North Korea's previous nuclear tests followed long-range rocket launches.
If it were to go ahead, this would be the first nuclear test under Kim Jong-un, who took over the leadership after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in December 2010.