North Korea conducted a new nuclear test Tuesday, its third since 2006. The test was detected when "unusual seismic activity was detected" near a known test site in a mountainous area, the Washington Post Reports.
Three hours later, Pyongyang confirmed that they had tested a "miniaturized" nuclear weapon, which, according to the Post, "tested a technology that could theoretically be paired with a long-range missile to threaten the United States."
See the official announcement of the test from North Korean state media, provided by CNN:
The secretive state had been threatening for weeks to carry out an "all-out action of high intensity." This is the first nuclear test conducted under new leader Kim Jong Eun, and sends a clear message that he has adopted his predecessors' confrontational attitude toward the U.S. and other western states.
"This is a highly provocative act that...undermines regional stability, violates North Korea's obligations under numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions...and increases the risk of proliferation," President Obama said in a statement issued this morning.
President Obama joined other leaders in calling for a rapid international response to North Korea's actions. "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community," he said. "The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies."
Leaders from other nations, including China, South Korea, and Japan, also spoke out against this morning's test, and the UN and NATO issued statements strongly condemning North Korea's actions.
"This irresponsible act...poses a grave threat to international and regional peace, security, and stability," read a statement from NATO provided by CNN.
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