North Korea Confirms 'Successful' Nuclear Test

North Korea has confirmed it has carried out a third nuclear test after monitoring agencies reported an "unusual seismic event".

"A third nuclear test has been successfully staged," the North's state-run Korean Central News agency said.

"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."

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake was detected just north of a site where Pyongyang conducted nuclear tests in 2009.

The South Korean defence ministry, which raised its military alert level after the quake, said the blast had an explosive yield of between six and seven kilotonnes (6-7kt).

Spokesman Kim Min Seok said it had "enormous destructive power".

Nuclear weapons detonated above Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 carried a yield of 20kt.

A Japanese seismic official shows where the blast occurred

A UN nuclear test monitoring organisation detected what it called an "unusual seismic event" in North Korea.

Tibor Toth, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), said the event's location was "roughly congruent with" nuclear tests carried out by North Korea in 2006 and 2009.

"If confirmed as a nuclear test, this act would constitute a clear threat to international peace and security, and challenge efforts made to strengthen global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular by ending nuclear testing," he added.

The UN Security Council will hold urgent talks on the blast later.

US President Barack Obama said the test posed a threat to the US, and international peace and security.

Mr Obama said the US will "continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies" and it will work with other nations "to pursue firm action".

He added that North Korea's action "warrants further swift and credible action by the international community".

A North Korean soldier stands guard after the test

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "I strongly condemn this development, which is a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2087.

"North Korea's development of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities poses a threat to international and regional security.

"Its repeated provocations only serve to increase regional tension, and hinder the prospects for lasting peace on the Korean peninsula."

After the blast a North Korean newsreader urged the Korean People's Army (KPA) to prepare for combat against its foes.

She stressed that If an order was given "the KPA should blow up the stronghold of aggression at a strike".

"And wipe out the brigandish US imperialists and South Korea puppet army to the last man and thus accomplish the historic cause of national reunification."

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