North Korea reports its first nuclear weapons test triggering wholesale condemnation led by South Korea and China which was given 20 minutes notice by PyongyangOctober 9, 2006, 8:08 AM (GMT+02:00)
The South Korean news agency reports the test took place underground in Gilju in Hamgyong province in northeast North Korea some 100 km from the Chinese border.
DEBKAfile reports the test adds to the pressure by the United States and in Israel for direct action to halt the Iranian nuclear program before it is too late. Iran like North Korea accepted international supervision of its program while cheating consistently and using diplomatic maneuvers to spin out time for developing its weapons program.
A 3.6 Richter magnitude earth tremor is the only outside confirmation of the test which coincided with the arrival in Seoul of Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe from talks in Beijing.
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