Hong Kong (CNN) - North Korea
appeared to have conducted its
third underground nuclear bomb
test Tuesday, officials and experts
said, as U.S. seismologists reported
activity centered near the site of
the secretive regime's two previous
atomic blasts.

Although North Korea had warned
the world of its plans to carry out a
new test in a vitriolic statement last
month, the move is still likely to
rattle the security situation in
Northeast Asia as analysts try to
determine the power and
complexity of the device the North
is thought to have detonated.

If confirmed, it would be the first
nuclear test under the North's
young leader, Kim Jong Un, who
appears to be sticking closely to his
father's policy of building up the
isolated state's military deterrent to
keep its foes at bay, shrugging off
the resulting international
condemnation and sanctions.

It also provided a provocative
reminder of a seemingly intractable
foreign policy challenge for
President Barack Obama ahead of
his State of the Union address later
Tuesday.

The area around the reported
epicenter of the magnitude 4.9
disturbance in northeastern North
Korea has little or no history of
earthquakes or natural seismic
hazards, according to U.S.

Geological Survey maps. The
disturbance Tuesday took place at
a depth of about 1 kilometer, the
USGS said.

Officials suspect a nuclear test

Government officials and security
analysts had little doubt about the
cause of the quake.
"We believe North Korea
conducted its third nuclear test,"
said Kim Min-seok, a spokesman
for the South Korean defense
ministry. He added that the
magnitude of the "artificial tremor"
suggested the size of the blast was
in the order of 6 to 7 kilotons,
more powerful than the North's
two prior nuclear tests.
"If we come to a final conclusion
that it is a nuclear test," he said,
"then we will consult with the
international community and
respond strongly."

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary
Yoshihide Suga said that based on
past cases, "We believe there is a
possibility that North Korea
conducted a nuclear test."

www.cnn.com/2013/02/11/world/asia/north-korea-seismic-disturbance/index.html?c=homepage-t