North Korea claimed it carried out a provocative underground nuclear test today in the escalating international stand-off over its rogue nuclear and missile programmes.

A South Korean news agency has said that North Korea test-fired a short-range missile, a report that came shortly after the communist nation declared that it successfully conducted a nuclear test today.

North Korea fired a rocket over Japan on today, defying Washington, Tokyo and others who suspect the launch was cover for a test of its long-range missile technology.

North Korea has removed all long-range missile equipment from a launch site, significantly lowering the possibility of a new test launch, the chief of South Korea’s main spy agency said today, according to Yonhap news agency.