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| North Korea nuclear test suspected after earthquake | North Korea nuclear test suspected after earthquake |
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| 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 New York, reports say. | |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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) 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. | 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. |
| 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 South Korean defence ministry estimated the quake could have been caused by a bomb of between six and seven kilotons. | The South Korean defence ministry estimated the quake could have been caused by a bomb of between six and seven kilotons. |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | 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." | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Diplomats said the UN security council would hold an emergency meeting at 9am in New York on Tuesday. | |
| Envoys had said previously that the US, South Korea and European members would want the security council to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang in the event of a third nuclear test. But getting a resolution approved could take weeks. |