North Korea Conducts 'Fifth And Biggest Nuclear Test'

North Korea is believed to have carried out its fifth and largest ever test of a nuclear device, say South Korean military officials.

It comes after an "artificial" magnitude 5.3 earthquake was detected close to its nuclear test site on Friday morning,

Previous artificial earthquakes in the same area and of that magnitude have all been nuclear tests.

There has been no comment from the North as yet.

In a statement carried by the Yonhap news agency, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said: "We estimate the North has carried out the biggest-ever test."

It said the yield was estimated to have been 10 kilotonnes, almost twice the power of its last test in January. At that time the North said it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, but many analysts cast doubt on that claim. 

The US Geological Survey, which monitors global seismic activity, said the tremor had been detected in the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the north-east and was caused by "an explosion".

It said it could "cannot determine what type of explosion it may be, whether nuclear or any other possible type".

Recent satellite imagery has shown increased activity at the site, indicating a fifth test could be imminent.

Friday is also North Korea's National Day, which celebrates the founding of the current regime. The North often uses such events as an opportunity for a show of military strength.

Japan was swift to condemn the suspected test with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying it was closely co-ordinating with its allies.

"If North Korea has conducted a nuclear experiment, we absolutely cannot condone it. We must protest adamantly."

The US said it was monitoring the reports.

Missile tests and angry rhetoric

North Korea is banned by UN sanctions from any tests of nuclear or missile technology.

But in recent months it has conducted a series of ballistic missile launches and has threatened to carry out 

 nuclear attacks on its enemies, unleashing a rising tide of aggressive rhetoric.

The North has also been angered by a US and South Korean plan to install an anti-missile defence system in the South.

International sanctions were considerably toughened in response, but had little impact on Pyongyang's determination to be a nuclear-armed state.

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Analysis: Steve Evans, BBC News, Seoul

If this test is confirmed, the big question is what might be done, given that sanctions were tightened after the fourth nuclear test and North Korea's launch of a satellite, which its opponents said was really a test of a missile.

China joined the condemnation but there are fault-lines in its relations with the US. China doesn't like the plans to deploy a US anti-missile defence system in South Korea. It is also angry at condemnation of its claim to disputed islands.

Increasingly, China and the United States are bumping up against each other in the region.