North Korea defies world opinion with nuclear test

Seoul, Feb 12 (AFP) North Korea today staged its most powerful nuclear test yet, claiming a technological breakthrough with a "miniaturised" device in a striking act of defiance to global powers including its sole patron China. The isolated state said its third underground test, conducted in the face of severe warnings from the UN Security Council, was a direct riposte to what it termed US "hostility". North Korea's claim of miniaturisation will be of particular concern, suggesting it is a step closer to fitting a nuclear warhead onto a ballistic missile. The confirmation from state news agency KCNA came nearly three hours after seismic monitors detected an unusual tremor at 0257 GMT in the area of the country's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, close to the Chinese border. Analysts said the timing appeared to be an attention-grabbing calculation from a state well versed in provocative acts, coming just ahead of US President Barack Obama's State of the Union address at the start of his second term. Obama denounced the test and called for a "swift" and "credible" international response, as the Security Council readied to meet. Condemnation came from others including Russia, while Japan saw a "grave threat" to its own security. It was the North's first nuclear test since its new, youthful leader Kim Jong-Un took over from his father, Kim Jong-Il. Security analysts said it sent a bold message of intent following a successful long-range rocket launch in December. "The launch and the test are empirical evidence that Kim and his regime have no intention of negotiating away the North's nuclear programme any time soon," said Paul Carroll, programme director at the US-based Ploughshares Fund. North Korea's two previous tests in 2006 and 2009 triggered waves of UN sanctions, and the Security Council was expected to debate new measures when it meets today morning in New York. There was no immediate response from China, but a UN diplomat said Beijing had made its displeasure clear to Pyongyang. "The Chinese gave the North Koreans a strong warning against carrying out a test as it became apparent that it was imminent," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, labelling the test "a big challenge to the Chinese". On a technical level, along with the miniaturisation aspect, experts are hungry to know if North Korea has switched from plutonium to a new and self-sustaining nuclear weaponisation programme using uranium. The KCNA statement did not specify what fissile material was used, but noted that the test's success had provided the North with a "diversified" nuclear deterrent. (MORE) (AFP) KUN 02121503 NNNN