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.

However, Mr Lee also told politicians there was “a high possibility” it would eventually take place if “efforts to resume the six-party talks fail”, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea has boycotted six-nation nuclear talks — which involve China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US — for nearly a year, angered by US financial restrictions imposed over the North’s alleged illegal activities, such as money laundering.

Meanwhile, an official at North Korea’s embassy in Australia, Pak Myong-guk, who described himself as a minister, said Pyongyang’s planned nuclear test “is not provocative”.

“It is just the corresponding measure for defence, for us to defend ourselves,” Mr Pak said. “It is the really essential process for nuclear deterrent.”

North Korea often insists it needs nuclear weapons to deter a US attack.