US News

N. Korea nuke-testing again

North Korea last night made good on its threat to conduct a nuclear test, setting off a massive blast that caused an earthquake-like rumble felt around Asia — and that sparked condemnation around the world.

The test was confirmed by North Korean state media, according to CBS News. It is the third test for the rogue state since it first set off a nuclear bomb in 2006.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the test a “clear and grave violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.

South Korea reported that the seismic activity from the blast was 6-7 kilotons, slightly smaller than the previous tests by the reclusive country.

The US Geological Survey said that a seismic event caused an earthquake magnitude of 5.1.

“It was confirmed that the nuclear test that was carried out at a high level in a safe and perfect manner using a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device,” a South Korean statement read.

The Security Council called an emergency meeting in response to the experiment.

“I think it will be proven to be a self-defeating and self-suffocating blunder,” an Asian diplomat told Reuters in New York.

It may take days to determine whether North Korea used highly enriched uranium in the test for the first time.