North Korea conducts nuclear test

Published February 12, 2013
North Korean soldiers patrol along the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju after the country conducted its third nuclear test. ?Photo by AFP
North Korean soldiers patrol along the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju after the country conducted its third nuclear test. ?Photo by AFP
Japan's meteorological agency officer Akira Nagai displays a chart showing seismic activity after a North Korean nuclear test, at the agency in Tokyo. ?Photo by AFP
Japan's meteorological agency officer Akira Nagai displays a chart showing seismic activity after a North Korean nuclear test, at the agency in Tokyo. ?Photo by AFP
Two Indonesian employees of the Indonesian Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency (BMKG) operate screens that show seismic activity after a North Korean nuclear test in Jakarta. ?Photo by AFP
Two Indonesian employees of the Indonesian Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency (BMKG) operate screens that show seismic activity after a North Korean nuclear test in Jakarta. ?Photo by AFP
South Korean army soldiers patrol along barbed-wire fences at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea. ?Photo by AP
South Korean army soldiers patrol along barbed-wire fences at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea. ?Photo by AP
South Korean passengers watch TV news reporting North Korea's apparent nuclear test, at the Seoul train station. Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said seismic monitors had detected a tremor with a 4.9 magnitude emanating from the North's nuclear test site. ?Photo by AFP
South Korean passengers watch TV news reporting North Korea's apparent nuclear test, at the Seoul train station. Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said seismic monitors had detected a tremor with a 4.9 magnitude emanating from the North's nuclear test site. ?Photo by AFP
North Korean soldiers stand outside their barracks on the banks of the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju, across from the Chinese city of Dandong.  ?Photo by AFP
North Korean soldiers stand outside their barracks on the banks of the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju, across from the Chinese city of Dandong. ?Photo by AFP
This satellite file photo taken on October 16, 2006 and made available on October 24, 2006 by South Korea's Arirang 2 satellite shows North Korea's suspected nuclear test site in P'unggye-yok Kilju county (enlarged bottom right). ?Photo by AFP
This satellite file photo taken on October 16, 2006 and made available on October 24, 2006 by South Korea's Arirang 2 satellite shows North Korea's suspected nuclear test site in P'unggye-yok Kilju county (enlarged bottom right). ?Photo by AFP
A van of right-wing activists decorated with mock missiles approaches the headquarters of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (chongryon), as police officers stand guard in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said earlier today that North Korea's nuclear test is a grave threat to Japan and cannot be tolerated, and Japan will consider its own sanctions against North Korea. ?Photo by Reuters
A van of right-wing activists decorated with mock missiles approaches the headquarters of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (chongryon), as police officers stand guard in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said earlier today that North Korea's nuclear test is a grave threat to Japan and cannot be tolerated, and Japan will consider its own sanctions against North Korea. ?Photo by Reuters
Activists from an anti-North Korea civic group try to tear a North Korea flag during a rally against North Korea's nuclear test near the U.S. embassy in central Seoul. ?Photo by Reuters
Activists from an anti-North Korea civic group try to tear a North Korea flag during a rally against North Korea's nuclear test near the U.S. embassy in central Seoul. ?Photo by Reuters
An activists from an anti-North Korea civic group burns a placard of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a protest in Seoul. ?Photo by AFP
An activists from an anti-North Korea civic group burns a placard of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a protest in Seoul. ?Photo by AFP

North Korea staged an apparent nuclear test of six to seven kilotons in a striking act of defiance that, if confirmed, is sure to trigger global condemnation from enemies and allies alike. Regional seismic monitoring agencies detected a seismic event, of a magnitude between 4.9 and 5.1, at 11:57 am (0257 GMT) with the epicentre in the same location as the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site. —Photos and texts by Agencies

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