North Korea claims successful nuclear weapons test

POSTED: 9:48 a.m. EDT, October 9, 2006

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea came under harsh international criticism after claiming to have carried out a successful underground nuclear weapons test on Monday.

China, a close ally of North Korea, denounced the claimed test as "brazen," and South Korea said it would respond "sternly" to a move that experts said raised fears of nuclear terrorism and a regional arms race.

The United States said a test would constitute a "provocative act," and it was expected to put pressure on North Korea during a United Nations Security Council meeting set for 9:30 a.m. ET.

New Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Bush agreed Monday during a telephone call that the U.N. Security Council must take "decisive action" against North Korea over its nuclear weapons test, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Bush was expected to make a statement on the situation from the White House at 9:45 a.m. ET.

When North Korea warned last week that it intended to conduct a nuclear test, international analysts said it could unleash a regional arms race and give a virtual green light to Iran, which the United States suspects wants to develop nuclear weapons. Experts also fear North Korea may allow terrorists such as al Qaeda access to its nuclear weapons technology.

"This immediately affects the calculations of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, all of whom might decide that they need to have their own independent nuclear arsenal as well," said international security analyst Joseph Cirincione of the Center for American Progress. "If North Korea gets away with this, Iran will be encouraged to go forward."

If confirmed, the test would be the first of its kind since Pakistan detonated an underground nuclear weapon in May of 1998, said Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists in Washington. North Korea would be the eighth nation to successfully conduct such a test, he said.

North Korea has recently test fired seven missiles, including a long-range ballistic missile in July, but it's unknown whether Pyongyang possesses the high-technology expertise to construct a nuclear weapon small enough for a missile delivery system.

On Wednesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said, "North Korea can have a future or it can have these weapons. It cannot have both."

Immediately following North Korea's announcement Monday, South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun said Pyongyang has "broke the trust of the international community." (Watch South Korea's Cabinet meet about what to do next -- 7:00)

Roh said it brought "a severe situation that threatens stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia."

Abe told the same news conference his country would work "to make ways to implement action for a tough resolution."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard suggested financial, trade and travel sanctions, saying a "strong international response is called for."

CNN's Dan Rivers, speaking from the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, said the key question now was what China -- which effectively allowed North Korea to exist economically -- would do. (Watch a quick timeline of how the situation reached this point -- 2:09)

The apparent nuclear test was conducted at 10:36 a.m. (1:36 a.m. GMT) in Hwaderi near Kilju city, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing defense officials.

South Korea's state geology research center detected a 3.58-magnitude "artificial earthquake" in a remote area of North Korea's North Hamgyeong Province, according to the news agency. Judging from the seismic tremor, the center said the power of the explosion was equivalent to around a half kiloton of TNT explosives, Yonhap reported.

Reports of the claimed test triggered global condemnation (Full story).

South Korea's Defense Ministry raised the military alert level. (Watch how the world changes after a North Korean nuclear test -- 2:09)

"The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea's official name) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9. ... at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation," said North Korea's state news agency, Korean Central News Agency.

CNN's Matthew Chance said that Moscow said Russian equipment in the area had confirmed an underground test.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that the force of the blast was five to 15 kilotons.

In Washington, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said 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 northeast Asia." (Watch initial Pentagon reaction -- 3:22)

A U.S. military official told CNN that "something clearly has happened," but the Pentagon was working to fully confirm the report.

The U.S. Geological Survey Web site recorded a light 4.2-magnitude earthquake in North Korea at 10:35 a.m., about 385 kilometers (240 miles) northeast of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

"The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 percent. 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 defense capability," KCNA reported.

"It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the area around it."