US confirms North Korea gave warning before nuclear test

WASHINGTON (AFP) - North Korea warned the United States before carrying out its third nuclear test, the State Department said on Tuesday, without specifying how much notice Washington was given.

"The DPRK did inform us at the State Department of their intention to conduct a nuclear test," State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland told reporters. "We were advised."

She stressed Washington had again told North Korea, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in the "strongest terms" that it opposed such plans.

"I'm simply going to tell you that it was prior to the event. I'm not going to get into any further details," she said, adding the warning came through the usual diplomatic channels.