North Korea confirms ‘miniaturised’ nuclear test

SOUTH KOREA: North Korea confirmed Tuesday it had successfully carried out an underground nuclear test of a new, “miniaturised” device in what it called a targeted response to US “hostility”.

“A third nuclear test has been successfully staged,” the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

“The high-level nuclear test, unlike in the past, had more explosive power and involved a miniaturised and lighter atomic bomb and was staged safely and perfectly,” KCNA said. The announcement that the device was “miniaturised” will set alarm bells ringing around the globe, with its suggestion that Pyongyang has mastered the technically complex process of producing a warhead small enough to fit on a long-range missile.

Proven miniaturisation ability would take on added significance in the wake of December's rocket launch which marked a major step forward in the North's ballistic prowess. The December launch was condemned in a UN Security Council resolution that also expanded existing sanctions against Pyongyang.

North Korea said the launch was a purely scientific mission to place a satellite in orbit, and the KCNA announcement said Tuesday's test was a direct response to the US proposed resolution.

“The nuclear test was conducted as part of measures to protect our national security and sovereignty against the reckless hostility of the United States that violated our republic's right for a peaceful satellite launch,” KCNA said.

South Korea moved quickly to condemn the test.

“This is an unacceptable threat to the security of the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia and a challenge to the whole international community,” presidential national security adviser Chun Young-Woo told reporters. “The North will face grave responsibility for such provocations,” Chun said.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon condemned North Korea's claimed nuclear weapons test as a “deeply destabilizing” provocation, his spokesman said Tuesday.

“It is a clear and grave violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions,” Ban said of the underground blast, in comments given through his spokesman Martin Nesirky.

Meanwhile, North Korea ignored a “strong warning” from China against staging its suspected nuclear weapon test.

The United States and South Korea, the council president for February, had both called for firm measures against North Korea if it stages a nuclear test.

China made special efforts to try to head off the bomb test, said the UN diplomat who has taken part in recent consultations.

AFP