North Korea held its third nuclear test today, underscoring a
disregard for an international community that has already isolated the
totalitarian state from the global economy.
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test today in defiance of UN resolutions, angering the US and Japan and likely to infuriate its only major ally, China, and increase penalties against Pyongyang.
The North said the test had "greater explosive force" than the 2006 and 2009 tests that were widely seen as small-scale.
Its KCNA news agency said it had used a "miniaturized" and lighter nuclear device, indicating that it had again used plutonium which is more suitable for use as a missile warhead.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the third of his line to rule the country, has now presided over two long-range rocket launches and a nuclear test during his first a year in power, pushing policies that have propelled his impoverished and malnourished country ever closer to becoming a nuclear weapons power.
US president Barack Obama said the test was a "highly provocative act" that hurt stability in the region and called its nuclear programme a threat to US and international security.
"The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community. The US will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies," Mr Obama said in a statement.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore condemned “in the strongest possible terms, the test by North Korea of a nuclear explosive device”.
He said the test threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and was a challenge to Irish foreign policy of advancing global nuclear disarmament.
“Nuclear weapons are never a means to guarantee peace and security; far from it, they pose the greatest threat of all. The regime in Pyongyang must realise that today’s act is reckless and provocative and will only isolate it further from the international community,” Mr Gilmore said.
He called for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to be immediately brought into force.
Major North Korean ally China said it strongly opposed the test and urged its ally to abide by its non-nuclear commitment and not take any actions that would worsen the situation on the Korean peninsula.
"It is China's firm stance to realise non-nuclearisation for the Korean peninsula and prevent nuclear proliferation and maintain peace and stability in northeast Asia," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the test was a "grave threat" that could not be tolerated. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said the test was a "clear and grave violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.
South Korea said the size of the seismic activity indicated a nuclear explosion slightly larger than the North's two previous tests at 6-7 kilotons, although that is still relatively small. The Hiroshima bomb was around 20 kilotons.
The US Geological Survey said that a seismic event measuring 5.1 magnitude had occurred on Tuesday, with North Korea later confirming the nuclear test.
"It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," KCNA said.
The test prompted the UN Security Council to call for an emergency meeting later today. It is likely to be a major embarrassment for Beijing, the North's sole major economic and diplomatic ally.
"The test is hugely insulting to China, which now can be expected to follow through with threats to impose sanctions," said Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.
North Korea trumpeted the announcement on its state television channel to patriotic music against the backdrop of an image of its national flag.
It linked the test to its technical prowess in launching a long-range rocket in December, a move that triggered the UN sanctions, backed by China, that Pyongyang said prompted it to carry out today's nuclear test.
The North's ultimate aim, Washington believes, is to design an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could hit the US.
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test today in defiance of UN resolutions, angering the US and Japan and likely to infuriate its only major ally, China, and increase penalties against Pyongyang.
The North said the test had "greater explosive force" than the 2006 and 2009 tests that were widely seen as small-scale.
Its KCNA news agency said it had used a "miniaturized" and lighter nuclear device, indicating that it had again used plutonium which is more suitable for use as a missile warhead.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the third of his line to rule the country, has now presided over two long-range rocket launches and a nuclear test during his first a year in power, pushing policies that have propelled his impoverished and malnourished country ever closer to becoming a nuclear weapons power.
US president Barack Obama said the test was a "highly provocative act" that hurt stability in the region and called its nuclear programme a threat to US and international security.
"The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community. The US will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies," Mr Obama said in a statement.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore condemned “in the strongest possible terms, the test by North Korea of a nuclear explosive device”.
He said the test threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and was a challenge to Irish foreign policy of advancing global nuclear disarmament.
“Nuclear weapons are never a means to guarantee peace and security; far from it, they pose the greatest threat of all. The regime in Pyongyang must realise that today’s act is reckless and provocative and will only isolate it further from the international community,” Mr Gilmore said.
He called for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to be immediately brought into force.
Major North Korean ally China said it strongly opposed the test and urged its ally to abide by its non-nuclear commitment and not take any actions that would worsen the situation on the Korean peninsula.
"It is China's firm stance to realise non-nuclearisation for the Korean peninsula and prevent nuclear proliferation and maintain peace and stability in northeast Asia," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the test was a "grave threat" that could not be tolerated. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said the test was a "clear and grave violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.
South Korea said the size of the seismic activity indicated a nuclear explosion slightly larger than the North's two previous tests at 6-7 kilotons, although that is still relatively small. The Hiroshima bomb was around 20 kilotons.
The US Geological Survey said that a seismic event measuring 5.1 magnitude had occurred on Tuesday, with North Korea later confirming the nuclear test.
"It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," KCNA said.
The test prompted the UN Security Council to call for an emergency meeting later today. It is likely to be a major embarrassment for Beijing, the North's sole major economic and diplomatic ally.
"The test is hugely insulting to China, which now can be expected to follow through with threats to impose sanctions," said Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.
North Korea trumpeted the announcement on its state television channel to patriotic music against the backdrop of an image of its national flag.
It linked the test to its technical prowess in launching a long-range rocket in December, a move that triggered the UN sanctions, backed by China, that Pyongyang said prompted it to carry out today's nuclear test.
The North's ultimate aim, Washington believes, is to design an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could hit the US.
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