Outrage over N Korea nuclear test

Weather stations in the Russian far east have been checking for radiation There have been expressions of international outrage after North Korea said it had successfully carried out an underground nuclear test. After seismologists confirmed it had the power of a 4.5 quake, the US president said North Korea's programme posed a "grave threat" to world peace. China and Russia also condemned the test and called for a return to talks. The UN Security Council is to meet later in New York for emergency talks on how it should respond. It is being reported that North Korea gave warning of an imminent test to the US less than an hour before it happened.  See map of test site It appears to have been a much more powerful blast than North Korea's first nuclear test, in October 2006. BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn says North Korea appears to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation over the nuclear issue. 'Stronger than 2006' Obama rebukes 'reckless' N Korea An official communique read out on North Korean state radio said another round of underground nuclear testing had been "successfully conducted... as part of measures to enhance the Republic's self-defensive nuclear deterrent in all directions". The North did not report the test site but South Korean officials placed it in the north-eastern region around the town of Kilju, the site of North Korea's first nuclear test. Monitors from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation had been unable to determine if the event had a "nuclear background", its executive secretary, Tibor Toth, told reporters. However, they did detect a "very close-to-surface type of event" measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, Mr Toth said. That would make it stronger than the October 2006 test, which had a magnitude of around 4.1. Russia's defence ministry estimated a blast of up to 20 kilotons - comparable to the American bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. A US official in Washington, who spoke to Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity, said Pyongyang had given less than an hour's notice of the test, and had made no demands. The message was conveyed through the "New York channel", the official added, referring to contacts between North Korean diplomats and US officials at the UN. There are unconfirmed reports that North Korea also test-fired two short-range missiles. Condemnation Speaking outside the White House, US President Barack Obama said the US would work with its allies around the world to "stand up to" North Korea. NUCLEAR CRISIS Oct 2006 - North Korea conducts an underground nuclear test Feb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aid June 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactor June 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assets Oct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorism Dec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aid Jan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent" April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite 25 May 2009 - North Korea conducts a second nuclear test Q&A: North Korea nuclear test N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North Korea "North Korea has previously committed to abandoning its nuclear programme," he said. "Instead of following through on that commitment, it has chosen to ignore that commitment. Its actions have also flown in the face of United Nations resolutions. As a result North Korea is not only deepening its own isolation it's also inviting stronger international pressure." South Korea said the test was an intolerable "provocation" while Japan said any nuclear test by the North was "unacceptable", and both said they would ask for action from the Security Council. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply disturbed". UN Security Council Resolution 1718 demands that North Korea refrain from nuclear testing. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the test would "undermine prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula". Russia and China echoed the words of condemnation with Beijing saying it was "resolutely opposed" to the test and Moscow describing it as a "blow to non-proliferation efforts". Both urged North Korea back to the negotiating table. The six-party disarmament talks - involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas - stalled last year over Pyongyang's failure to agree how information it has handed over on its nuclear activities and facilities should be verified. NORTH KOREA'S SUSPECTED NUCLEAR TEST SITE Nuclear test on 25 May 2009 is thought to have been carried out at same site as October 2006 test Return to top