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A graph of ground motion waveform data shows the impact of a short-range missile fired by North Korea - Source: Reuters -
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North Korea said it successfully conducted a nuclear test on
Monday, a move certain to further isolate the prickly state, which
argues it has no choice but to build an atomic arsenal to protect
itself in a hostile world.
The test, the North's second, follows years of on-off negotiations
with regional powers, which have been pressing the impoverished
state to give up its nuclear ambitions in return for massive aid
and an end to the country's pariah status.
Ratcheting up tensions further, North Korea fired a short-range
missile just hours later, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing a
diplomatic source. The missile was fired from North Korea's east
coast missile site at Musudan-ri.
The UN Security Council would hold an emergency meeting later on
Monday in the wake of the nuclear test, Russia's ambassador to the
United Nations said.
"(North Korea) successfully conducted one more underground nuclear
test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear
deterrent for self-defence in every way," the North's official KCNA
news agency said.
It added that the underground test "was safely conducted on a new
higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its
control".
The US Geological Survey said it had detected a 4.7-magnitude quake
in an area close to where the test site is thought to be.
However, as with the first nuclear test by the communist state in
October 2006, it could take some time before the outside world is
able to gauge how successful it was. The first one was seen as only
a partial success.
The news knocked South Korean financial markets, with the main
share index dropping 4% at one stage and the won falling more than
1% against the dollar on fears the test would raise tension in a
region which accounts for one-sixth of the global economy.
South Korean financial markets later recovered much of their
earlier losses as investors bet that any direct impact on markets
would be short-lived unless there was actual military
conflict.
Market reaction elsewhere was limited, with safe-haven gold prices
falling slightly on the day and Japan's Nikkei average clinging to
gains.
"The reported test appears to be aimed at securing ultimate
endorsement of its nuclear power status from the United States and
bringing Washington to the negotiation table," said Kim Sung-han, a
professor at Korea University.
"It could increase investor concerns about South Korea as the test
may further worsen already soured inter-Korea relations," he
added.
However, several analysts said they expected the impact on
financial markets to be short-lived.
Japan angered by test
Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Takeo Kawamura, said the test was
unacceptable and a violation of a UN Security Council
Resolution.
North Korea had for weeks threatened to conduct the test in
response to tighter international sanctions following its launch of
a rocket in April. Pyongyang said that launch put a communications
satellite into space, but Western nations said it was a disguised
long-range missile.
Following the added sanctions, Pyongyang also said it would no
longer be a party to six-nation talks on giving up its nuclear
weapons programme.
"North Korea's strategic objective hasn't changed. That objective
is to win the attention of the Obama administration, to push the
North Korea issue up the agenda," said Xu Guangyu, a researcher at
the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.
Xu said China, the nearest Pyongyang has to a powerful ally, might
support a UN resolution censuring North Korea but would not back
much harsher sanctions.
"China's goal is to ensure that the six-party talks process does
not fall apart. Stricter sanctions are not going to achieve that
objective," Xu said.
Some analysts have said the test may also be aimed at boosting the
position at home of leader Kim Jong-il, who is widely believed to
have suffered a stroke last year.
Several say Kim, who succeeded his father to create the world's
first communist dynasty, may be trying to secure the succession for
one of his three sons and that a nuclear test in defiance of world
opinion could help him win support from his hardline military to do
so.
"One has to wonder if this is part of the internal political
transition that may be occuring inside North Korea," said Jim
Walsh, an expert in international security and a research associate
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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