North Korea has conducted its fifth nuclear test.<br /><br /> South Korea and Japan say meterological agencies reported a surface-level seismic tremor near the North’s known test site.<br /><br /> Indications are this is the most powerful yet.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> #BREAKING: N. Korea hails 'successful' nuclear test: state TV— AFP news agency (@AFP) September 9, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> How strong was the tremor?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The US Geological Survey and European agencies measured a magnitude of 5.3 at 0030 GMT.<br /><br /> Agencies in China, Pyongyang’s main diplomatic ally, also recorded the tremor.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The biggest test to date<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Tests of seismic magnitude suggest this is the most powerful nuclear test conducted by North Korea to date.<br /><br /> Jeffrey Lewis of the California-based Middlebury Institute said surface level recordings indicate a blast with a 20 to 30 kilotonne yield.<br /><br /> This would make Friday’s reported test larger than the nuclear bomb dropped by the US on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the Second World War.<br /><br /> It would also be potentially bigger than the one dropped on Nagasaki soon afterwards.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “Maniacal recklessness”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> South Korean President Park Guen-Hye, who is in Laos for a summit of Asian leaders, said it was a nuclear test.<br /><br /> Park said North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was showing “maniacal recklessness” in completely ignoring the world’s call to abandon his pursuit of nuclear weapons.<br /><br /> Seoul’s presidential office said Barack Obama spoke with Park by telephone as he flew back from Laos.<br /><br /> Obama held unscheduled meetings with Park and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after the missile tests.<br /><br /> He said Washington needed to maintain a sense of urgency within the international community on sanctions against Pyongyang.<br /><br /> Japan also described it as a nuclear test.<br /><br /> Prime Minister Abe said a nuclear test could not be tolerated. Japan’s foreign minister also lodged a protest while two military jets have been sent to begin monitoring radiation.<br /><br /> China’s environment ministry has begun emergency radiation monitoring along its border with North Korea, according to state television reports.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> BREAKING: China says it “resolutely opposes” N. Korea's nuke test, “intensely urges” Pyongyang to abide by its non-proliferation promises.— The Associated Press (@AP) September 9, 2016<br />
