North Korea says it has conducted third nuke test
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A customer look at television sets showing a report on North Korea's nuclear test at an electronics shop in Seoul on Feb 12, 2013. North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Tuesday, South Korea's defence ministry said, after seismic activity measuring 4.9 magnitude was registered by the U.S. Geological Survey. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - North Korea says it has tested a "miniaturised" nuclear device in defiance of U.N. orders to stop building atomic weapons.
Official state media reported on Tuesday that it was conducted in a safe manner.
This third nuclear test could take North Korea closer to its goal of building a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile.
Any test would be seen as another big step toward North Korea's goal of building a warhead that can be mounted on a missile. It would also be a bold signal from young leader Kim Jong Un, who took power in December 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il.
