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North Korea nuclear test suspected as magnitude 4.9 earthquake is recorded North Korea nuclear test suspected after earthquake
(35 minutes later)
There are signs that North Korea has conducted its anticipated nuclear test, with an earthquake of magnitude 4.9 detected near the underground site where it had been expected to carry out the explosion. The UN security council is convening an emergency meeting in response, reports say. North Korea is believed to have conducted its anticipated third nuclear test after an earthquake was detected near the underground site where it had been expected to carry out the explosion. The UN security council is convening an emergency meeting in response, reports say.
The US Geological Survey said on Tuesday it had detected the earthquake in North Korea but neither Pyongyang nor Seoul confirmed whether the widely anticipated third nuclear test had happened. South Korean reports described the quake as "manmade". If confirmed it will be the third time North Korea has set off a nuclear bomb. The US Geological Survey said on Tuesday it had detected the earthquake in North Korea. South Korean reports described the quake as manmade. If confirmed it will be the third time North Korea has set off a nuclear bomb.
The South Korean defence ministry said it was trying to determine whether North Korea had conducted a nuclear test. Nuclear blasts can create tremors but they are distinct from those caused by natural earthquakes. In Japan the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, immediately convened his country's security council. "I have ordered that we consider every possible way to address this issue, including our own sanctions, while co-operating with other countries," he said after the meeting.
The quake occurred at 11.57am Korean time (2.57am GMT) and South Korea's presidential office said that it was "likely" a nuclear test, according to the South's Yonhap news agency. The quake occurred at 11.57am Korean time (2.57am GMT) on Tuesday and South Korea's presidential office said that it was "likely" a nuclear test. North Korea is not prone to seismic activity. South Korean, US and Japanese seismic monitoring agencies put the magnitude of the quake at between 4.9 and 5.2.
North Korea is not prone to seismic activity.
In Japan the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, immediately convened his country's security council. The South Korean defence ministry estimated the quake could have been caused by a bomb of between six and seven kilotons.
The USGS said the epicentre of the quake was a kilometre underground and close to the North's known nuclear test site. It was 24km north-east of Sungjibaegam in North Korea.The USGS said the epicentre of the quake was a kilometre underground and close to the North's known nuclear test site. It was 24km north-east of Sungjibaegam in North Korea.
The Reuters news agency quoted a UN security council diplomat as saying: "We've been informed by the South Koreans that there's been a [North Korean] nuclear test." The South Korean defence ministry estimated the quake could have been caused by a bomb of between six and seven kilotons.
In Vienna, international monitoring group the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) said it was analysing an "unusual seismic event" in North Korea. Kim Min-seok, a South Korean defence ministry spokesman, said North Korea had informed China and the United States in advance of its plans to conduct a nuclear test. It was not clear when this warning was given.
"There is a high possibility that North Korea has conducted a nuclear test," said Chi Heoncheol, an earthquake specialist at the South Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. Chi said earthquakes of magnitude 3.9 and 4.5 respectively were detected in the North's 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.
A Japanese government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said: "We think it is possible it came about as a result of a nuclear test by North Korea from looking at past cases."
Yosuke Igarashi, an official at the Japan Meteorological Agency, said: "A natural earthquake normally starts with a smaller tremor followed by a larger one. This quake's strength was the same throughout."
In Vienna international monitoring group the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) said it was analysing an "unusual seismic event" in North Korea.
The CTBTO is an independent body that monitors for nuclear tests and has 270 facilities around the world that check for quakes, radioactive particles in the atmosphere and other evidence.The CTBTO is an independent body that monitors for nuclear tests and has 270 facilities around the world that check for quakes, radioactive particles in the atmosphere and other evidence.
North Korea's politburo vowed to continue firing "powerful long-range rockets" in a statement on Tuesday that made no mention of Pyongyang's promise to conduct a nuclear test. In a statement issued earlier on Tuesday North Korea's politburo had vowed to continue firing "powerful long-range rockets" but made no mention of its previous promise to conduct a nuclear test.
The United States and its allies have been on edge since North Korea said last month it would conduct its third nuclear test in protest at sanctions that were toughened when it launched a rocket in December. The UN called the launch a cover for a banned missile test. The United States and its allies have been on edge since North Korea said in January it would conduct its third nuclear test in protest at sanctions that were toughened when it launched a rocket carrying a satellite in December 2012. The UN called that launch a cover for a banned missile test.
North Korea's powerful National Defence Commission said on 23 January that the United States was its prime target for a nuclear test and long-range rocket launches. North Korea accuses Washington of leading the push to punish Pyongyang for its December rocket launch. North Korea's powerful National Defence Commission said on 23 January that the United States was its main reason for testing nuclear bombs and long-range rockets. North Korea accuses Washington of leading the push to punish Pyongyang for its December rocket launch.
In October 2012 a spokesman from the commission told state media that the country had built a missile capable of striking the United States but he did not provide further details. A missile featured in an April 2012 military parade appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile but its authenticity has not been verified by foreign experts.In October 2012 a spokesman from the commission told state media that the country had built a missile capable of striking the United States but he did not provide further details. A missile featured in an April 2012 military parade appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile but its authenticity has not been verified by foreign experts.