US and allies warn of ‘decisive’ response if North Korea tests nuclear weapon

Officials from the US, Japan and South Korea warned of a ‘decisive’ response if North Korea carries out a nuclear test (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Officials from the United States and its Asian allies, Japan and South Korea, suspect North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test, and vice foreign ministers from the three countries said on Wednesday that their joint response would be “decisive”.

Cho Hyundong, South Korea’s first vice foreign minister, said the trio are bolstering their defence co-operation to deter the growing possibility of North Korea’s use of nuclear weapons since the adoption in September of legislation spelling out scenarios where it would use them, including pre-emptively.