North Korea carries out nuclear test

(Vatican Radio) The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting today after North Korea said it carried out a new nuclear test, defying a ban on atomic weapons development. The blast took place mid-morning local time, when seismic monitoring systems across East Asia registered a tremor centering on a mountain range where North Korea carried out previous tests.

American and Chinese seismologists said the epicentre was shallow, like that of a nuclear warhead buried in a mineshaft.

North Korea's state news agency called it a miniaturised nuclear device with a proportionally greater explosive force than earlier ones, adding that the test took place safely -- and without a hitch.

There was condemnation from man nations worldwide. Japan's prime minister said Tokyo would consider new sanctions. Even China had urged North Korea to scrap plans for a nuclear test in recent days, but it had stopped short of announcing possible penalties.

United Nations Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from nuclear and missile development. But analysts said North Korea would need to carry out at least one test, sometime, to confirm whether or not its scientists have shrunk a warhead enough to fit on a rocket.

Meanwhile, the politburo of North Korea's ruling party has called on the government there
to continue testing long-range missiles, saying that would be an appropriate way to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean war.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s report :