・DPRK said Monday it has successfully conducted "one more" underground nuclear test. ・DPRK: test was "part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence..." ・The statement did not give any details about the test, including its location.
PYONGYANG, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Monday it has successfully conducted "one more" underground nuclear test earlier in the day.
South Korea's nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac (R) speaks during an emergency meeting at the foreign ministry main office in Seoul May 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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In a statement released by the official news agency KCNA, the DPRK government said the test was "part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians."
"The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control and the results of the test helped satisfactorily settle the scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology," the statement said.
But the brief statement did not give any details about the test, including its location.
South Korea's nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac (top R) speaks during an emergency meeting at the foreign ministry main office in Seoul May 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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The test came after the United Nations Security Council adopted a presidential statement in late April, condemning the April 5 rocket launch by the DPRK and demanding the country "not conduct any further launch."
Pyongyang subsequently announced it was quitting the six-party talks on nuclear disarmament and would restart nuclear facilities in protest of the UN statement.
A Democartic People's Republic of Korea missile launch facility at Musudan-Ri is seen in this April 5, 2009 GeoEye-1 satellite file photo taken from 423 miles in space as the GeoEye-1 commercial Earth-imaging satellite moved from north to south over the Korean peninsula at a speed of 4 miles per second.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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The DPRK conducted its first nuclear test in 2006.
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North Korea's official news agency is reporting that the country's government has carried out a "successful" test of a nuclear weapon. Yonhap News Agency in South Korea also reports the possible test.

Location of the test "According to the demand of our scientists and technicians, our republic has successfully conducted another underground nuclear test on May 25 ... as part of measures to strengthen its nuclear power in self-defense," said the Korean Central News Agency as quoted by Yonhap. North Korea claimed the test was 'part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence'.

Yonhap says an "artificial earthquake" was detected that suggested a test had been conducted, but that the government was working to confirm the report. "The South Korean government is still trying to verify whether it in fact was a nuclear test, but it believes there is a possibility," said presidential office spokesperson Lee Dong-kwan. 

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that at approximately 00:54:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake was detected 70 kilometers (45 miles) North, Northwest of Kimchaek, North Korea. South Korea reports the magnitude at a 4.5. North Korea previously conducted a nuclear test in 2006. That blast was measured at a magnitude 3.6.

South Korean officials have called an emergency meeting to discuss the event. South Korea has also banned its citizens from entering North Korea, except the Kaesong Joint Complex, from Tuesday. Russia is convening an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Monday. Japan's government has set up a special task force at the crisis management center in the prime minister's official residence.

South Korea, Japan, The People's Republic of China, the United States, Russia, and the European Union have all condemned the test. Russia, the US and the EU claimed the tests are a breach of United Nations' Security Council Resolutions. Iran has refused to condemn it, stating it was an "internal affair".