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N Korea raises threat of new test N Korea raises threat of new test
(about 2 hours later)
North Korea's second most powerful leader has threatened more nuclear tests if the US maintains its "hostile" policy, Japanese media report.North Korea's second most powerful leader has threatened more nuclear tests if the US maintains its "hostile" policy, Japanese media report.
Kim Yong-nam said the decision depended on how the US treated North Korea, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.Kim Yong-nam said the decision depended on how the US treated North Korea, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.
The comments were the first from a senior North Korean official since the country's claimed nuclear test.The comments were the first from a senior North Korean official since the country's claimed nuclear test.
France's Defence Minister has said the explosion was so small it was either a failure or a non-nuclear explosion. France's defence minister has questioned the test, saying the blast could have failed or been a fake.
''The issue of future nuclear tests is linked to US policy toward our country,'' Kyodo quoted Mr Kim as saying. Mr Kim said, in an interview with Kyodo, that "the issue of future nuclear tests is linked to US policy toward our country".
The nuclear test... marks a historic event... It will contribute to defending peace and stability North Korean statement North pushes at US 'red line' Underground nuclear testing China's 'nightmare scenario'
''If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that.''''If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that.''
He also said US policy was also the main factor in determining whether to return to stalled six-party talks. He also said North Korea would be willing to return to stalled six-party talks on its nuclear programme if existing sanctions were lifted.
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a radio interview that an "explosion of limited size" had been detected when North Korea carried out the claimed test. The BBC's Nick Bryant in South Korea says that as the international community is calling for tougher sanctions and North Korea is rejecting even existing ones, it is unlikely that the offer of returning to talks will be taken very seriously.
"Given it's weak power, it is hard to say if it was a very large, but traditional, type of explosion or else a nuclear explosion... If it was a nuclear explosion, it was a failed explosion," she said. 'Failed'
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a radio interview that an "explosion of limited size" had been detected on Monday when North Korea carried out the claimed test.
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely
"Given its weak power, it is hard to say if it was a very large, but traditional, type of explosion or else a nuclear explosion... If it was a nuclear explosion, it was a failed explosion," she said.
"However, that does not make it any the less serious.""However, that does not make it any the less serious."
The comments from Pyongyang came shortly after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that further testing may be imminent. The comments from Pyongyang came shortly after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that "information from contacts" suggested further testing may be imminent.
"We have very real concerns that they may conduct another nuclear test and that they may do so very soon," he said."We have very real concerns that they may conduct another nuclear test and that they may do so very soon," he said.
The UN Security Council is currently debating a draft resolution of punitive sanctions proposed by the US. Analysts say North Korea may need to conduct several more tests to build a credible nuclear deterrent.
Punitive measures
The UN Security Council is due on Wednesday to continue debating a draft resolution of punitive sanctions proposed by the US.
The US proposal includes halting trade in material that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction; inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea; a ban on imports of luxury goods and a ban on financial transactions used to support nuclear proliferation.
There is agreement in the Security Council that North Korea should face punitive measures.
US SANCTIONS PROPOSAL Halting trade in material that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction Inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea The ending of financial transactions used to support nuclear proliferation A ban on the import of luxury goods
The US wants the sanctions to be brought under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which means they would be mandatory and ultimately enforceable by military means.
But China, Russia and South Korea have expressed varying degrees of opposition to such a resolution.
BBC correspondent Laura Trevelyan, who is at the UN headquarters in New York, says diplomats hope to reach agreement by the end of the week.
The underground test reportedly took place in Gilju in Hamgyong province at 1036 (0136 GMT) on Monday morning.
Russia is the only country to have confirmed that it was a nuclear explosion.
Seoul is borrowing a sophisticated radioactivity detector from Sweden to help determine whether a nuclear test was carried out, the South Korean science and technology ministry told Yonhap news agency.