Neighbours caution North Korea against planned nuclear test

NEIGHBOURING countries yesterday cautioned North Korea against carrying out a planned nuclear test, while a top South Korean security official said there was no sign a test was imminent.

China, Japan and South Korea all announced separate one-on-one summits among their leaders next week, increasing diplomacy over tensions caused by North Korea’s announcement on Tuesday that it intended to conduct the test.

Such a test would confirm North Korea’s claim that it has atomic weapon capabilities and would severely undermine efforts to prevent an Asian nuclear arms race by getting Pyongyang to disarm. South Korea’s top official on dealings with North Korea, Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, said there were no definite signs the test was imminent.