This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21421841
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| North Korea confirms third nuclear test | North Korea confirms third nuclear test |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Korea says it has successfully carried out its third underground nuclear test, a move that has drawn international condemnation. | North Korea says it has successfully carried out its third underground nuclear test, a move that has drawn international condemnation. |
| The confirmation came three hours after seismic activity was detected at North Korea's nuclear test site. | The confirmation came three hours after seismic activity was detected at North Korea's nuclear test site. |
| US President Barack Obama called for "swift" and "credible" international action in response. China expressed "firm opposition" to its ally's test. | |
| The UN Security Council will meet at 14:00 GMT, diplomats say. | |
| North Korea had been warning for weeks that it would carry out a third nuclear test "with its arch-enemy, the United States, in mind". | North Korea had been warning for weeks that it would carry out a third nuclear test "with its arch-enemy, the United States, in mind". |
| Pyongyang was even reported to have alerted both its "arch-enemy", and its main ally - China - to the fact just 24 hours before. | Pyongyang was even reported to have alerted both its "arch-enemy", and its main ally - China - to the fact just 24 hours before. |
| Nevertheless, messages from state media in the days leading up to the test were confusing - suggesting that other countries had misread its signals, and highlighting its missile programme rather than its nuclear one. | Nevertheless, messages from state media in the days leading up to the test were confusing - suggesting that other countries had misread its signals, and highlighting its missile programme rather than its nuclear one. |
| Now that North Korea has confirmed the explosion of a "smaller and lighter" device, with a "bigger blast", attention has quickly shifted to reactions across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the Koreas - and across the Pacific. | Now that North Korea has confirmed the explosion of a "smaller and lighter" device, with a "bigger blast", attention has quickly shifted to reactions across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the Koreas - and across the Pacific. |
| The trouble - as ever - is what the international community can do in response without triggering an even bigger crisis. | The trouble - as ever - is what the international community can do in response without triggering an even bigger crisis. |
| North Korea is already tied up in layers of sanctions. They don't seem to have have any impact. | North Korea is already tied up in layers of sanctions. They don't seem to have have any impact. |
| Some in Washington have talked of maybe targeting North Korean financial interests, but the only real pressure is seen to lie with China. By defying the UN and launching its nuclear test now, Pyongyang is giving the new leadership in Beijing a very public test of its own. | Some in Washington have talked of maybe targeting North Korean financial interests, but the only real pressure is seen to lie with China. By defying the UN and launching its nuclear test now, Pyongyang is giving the new leadership in Beijing a very public test of its own. |
| North Korea previously conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. It announced in January that it would conduct a third as a response to UN sanctions that were expanded after a December rocket launch, a move condemned by the UN as a banned test of missile technology. | North Korea previously conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. It announced in January that it would conduct a third as a response to UN sanctions that were expanded after a December rocket launch, a move condemned by the UN as a banned test of missile technology. |
| Confirmation of the test came in a statement from state-run KCNA news agency. | Confirmation of the test came in a statement from state-run KCNA news agency. |
| "It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturised and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," KCNA said. | "It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturised and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment," KCNA said. |
| The claim to have tested a "miniaturised" device is likely to alarm observers. The US and North Korea's neighbours fear Pyongyang's ultimate goal is to produce a nuclear device small enough to fit on a long-range missile, something it is not yet believed to have mastered. | The claim to have tested a "miniaturised" device is likely to alarm observers. The US and North Korea's neighbours fear Pyongyang's ultimate goal is to produce a nuclear device small enough to fit on a long-range missile, something it is not yet believed to have mastered. |
| North Korea said the nuclear test - which comes on the eve of President Obama's State of the Union address - was to "to protect our national security and sovereignty against the reckless hostility of the United States". | North Korea said the nuclear test - which comes on the eve of President Obama's State of the Union address - was to "to protect our national security and sovereignty against the reckless hostility of the United States". |
| It is the first such test under new leader Kim Jong-un, who took over the leadership after his father Kim Jong-il died in December 2011. | It is the first such test under new leader Kim Jong-un, who took over the leadership after his father Kim Jong-il died in December 2011. |
| 'Grave threat' | 'Grave threat' |
| Activity had been observed at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site for several months. | Activity had been observed at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site for several months. |
| Seismic activity was then detected by monitoring agencies from several nations at 11:57 (02:57 GMT). A shallow earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 was recorded, the US Geological Survey said. | Seismic activity was then detected by monitoring agencies from several nations at 11:57 (02:57 GMT). A shallow earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 was recorded, the US Geological Survey said. |
| Both South Korea and Japan convened emergency meetings of their national security teams shortly afterwards. | Both South Korea and Japan convened emergency meetings of their national security teams shortly afterwards. |
| "This is an unacceptable threat to the security of the Korean peninsula and north-east Asia, and a challenge to the whole international community," South Korea's presidential national security adviser Chun Young-woo said. | "This is an unacceptable threat to the security of the Korean peninsula and north-east Asia, and a challenge to the whole international community," South Korea's presidential national security adviser Chun Young-woo said. |
| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "It is a grave threat to our nation's safety and cannot be tolerated as it will significantly damage international society's peace and safety." | |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the test as a "clear and grave violation" of UN resolutions and a "deeply destabilising" provocation. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the test as a "clear and grave violation" of UN resolutions and a "deeply destabilising" provocation. |
| President Obama said the test was a "highly provocative act". | President Obama said the test was a "highly provocative act". |
| He added: "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community. | He added: "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community. |
| "The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies." | "The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies." |
| Britain called for a "robust response" from the UN Security Council. | Britain called for a "robust response" from the UN Security Council. |