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N Korea claims nuclear test North Korea claims nuclear test
(40 minutes later)
North Korea says it has carried out its first ever test of a nuclear weapon, the state news agency has reported. North Korea says it has carried out its first test of a nuclear weapon, the state news agency (KCNA) has reported.
It said the underground test, done in defiance of international warnings, was a success and had not resulted in any leak of radiation. It said the underground test, carried out in defiance of international warnings, was a success and had not resulted in any leak of radiation.
A South Korean official said an explosion had been detected in the north-east of North Korea, measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale. Pyongyang triggered an international outcry last week, when it announced plans to carry out the test.
North Korea said last week that it planned to test a nuclear weapon. On Sunday, China and Japan said in a joint statement that they would not tolerate such an action.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has called an emergency meeting of his government's National Security Council. In response to the reported test, the South Korean armed forces have been put on a heightened state of alert, and President Roh Moo-hyun has called an emergency meeting of his government's National Security Council.
A South Korean official said that there had been a grave change in the security situation on the peninsula. 'Historic event'
KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005:At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm" class="">N Korea nuclear timeline Officials in South Korea have been quoted as saying that an explosion was detected in north Hamgyong province in North Korea. There has been no official confirmation of the test, although South Korea's Yonhap news agency is reporting that it took place in Gilju in Hamgyong province at 1036 (0136 GMT).
There has been no official confirmation of the test, although South Korea's Yonhap news agency is reporting that it took place in Gilju in Hamgyong province at 10:36 (01:36 GMT), citing unnamed officials. KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005:At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm" class="">N Korea nuclear timeline A South Korean official said an 3.5 magnitude seismic tremor had been detected in north Hamgyong province, in the north-east of North Korea.
Prior to the announcements, there had been speculation that any such trial would take place either in Gilju in the north, or Hagap in the centre of the country. When it announced the test, KCNA described it as an "historic event that brought happiness to our military and people".
The entire region has been on high alert since North Korea said last week it would conduct a nuclear test.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has just arrived in Seoul for a meeting with Mr Roh, following talks on the crisis with his Chinese counterparts in Beijing.
At the Beijing summit, Japanese and Chinese leaders had earlier said that such a test would be considered "unacceptable".
The North Korean state news agency, KCNA, said: "The nuclear test is a historic event that brought happiness to our military and people.
The agency said the test had been carried out using 100% local technology.
"The nuclear test will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region," KCNA said."The nuclear test will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region," KCNA said.
The region has been on high alert since North Korea announced last week that it would conduct a nuclear test.
Japan said that if the test was confirmed, it would be a "grave threat", while China denounced the action as "brazen".
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has just arrived in Seoul for a meeting with Mr Roh, following talks on the crisis with his Chinese counterparts in Beijing.
Mr Abe said Japan wanted to co-ordinate its response with the South Koreans, and was also in contact with the US and China.
In Tokyo, ministers were called to an urgent meeting, and the government set up a special task force.
The US has yet to give an official response to the reported test, but US negotiator Christopher Hill said last week that North Korea must choose either to have a future or to have nuclear weapons, "but it cannot have them both".