A North Korean nuclear test would constitute a ”provocative act” and Washington expects the United Nations Security Council to take immediate actions, the White House said early on Monday.
”US and South Korean intelligence detected a seismic event Sunday at a suspected nuclear test site in North Korea,” White House spokesperson Tony Snow said in a statement.
”North Korea has claimed it conducted an underground nuclear test. A North Korean nuclear test would constitute a provocative act, in defiance of the will of the international community and of our call to refrain from actions that would aggravate tensions in north-east Asia,” said Snow.
”We expect the Security Council to take immediate actions to respond to this unprovoked act,” he said.
North Korea said on Monday it had safely and successfully carried out an underground nuclear test, flying in the face of a warning from the Security Council.
The US Geological Survey said it had detected a 4,2 magnitude quake in North Korea at 10.35am local time (1.35am GMT) on Monday, confirming a similar report from South Korea.
”The United States is closely monitoring the situation and reaffirms its commitment to protect and defend our allies in the region,” said Snow.
Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said there was no leak or danger from its test, which diplomats had predicted would be conducted in the north of the country near the border with China.
”The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100%,” KCNA said.
”It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA [Korean People’s Army] and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability.”
Analysts say North Korea probably has enough fissile material to make six to eight nuclear bombs but probably does not have the technology to devise one small enough to mount on a missile.
The dollar rose to a seven-month high against the yen after the news. The South Korean won tumbled more than one percent to one-month lows, while South Korea’s main stock index dropped as much as 3.6 percent.
Former UN weapons inspector David Albright told CNN that if the test had only involved one weapon, this would be a postive sign.
”If they conducted two, three or four tests it would be more worrisome because it would suggest they were conducting … a series of tests that would allow them to create a much better arsenal.”
”I don’t think North Korea is trying [for] an escalation that could lead to a military confrontation. … I think they’re trying to respond from a corner,” he said.
Zhang Liangui, an expert on North Korea at the Central Party School in Beijing, said the test was an ”extremely serious matter”.
”The whole international community needs to face the serious ramifications of this act. … The international community needs to be resolute; otherwise, the North Korean test will have severe repercussions for the global non-proliferation regime.” – Reuters