N Korea threatens new test

NORTH Korea’s second most powerful leader has threatened more nuclear tests if the US maintains its “hostile” policy, Japanese media report.

Kim Yong-nam said the decision depended on how the US treated North Korea, Japan’s Kyodo news agency said. The comments were the first from a senior North Korean official since the country’s claimed nuclear test.France’s defence minister has questioned the test, saying the blast could have failed or been a fake.Kim said, in an interview with Kyodo, that “the issue of future nuclear tests is linked to US policy toward our country”. The nuclear test…marks a historic event…It will contribute to defending peace and stability ”If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that.” He also said North Korea would be willing to return to stalled six-party talks on its nuclear programme if existing sanctions were lifted.The BBC’s Nick Bryant in South Korea says that as the international community is calling for tougher sanctions and North Korea is rejecting even existing ones, it is unlikely that the offer of returning to talks will be taken very seriously.French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a radio interview that an “explosion of limited size” had been detected on Monday when North Korea carried out the claimed test.The comments from Pyongyang came shortly after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that “information from contacts” suggested further testing may be imminent.The UN Security Council was due yesterday to continue debating a draft resolution of punitive sanctions proposed by the US.The US proposal includes halting trade in material that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction; inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea; a ban on imports of luxury goods and a ban on financial transactions used to support nuclear proliferation.There is agreement in the Security Council that North Korea should face punitive measures.BBCThe comments were the first from a senior North Korean official since the country’s claimed nuclear test.France’s defence minister has questioned the test, saying the blast could have failed or been a fake.Kim said, in an interview with Kyodo, that “the issue of future nuclear tests is linked to US policy toward our country”. The nuclear test…marks a historic event…It will contribute to defending peace and stability ”If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that.” He also said North Korea would be willing to return to stalled six-party talks on its nuclear programme if existing sanctions were lifted.The BBC’s Nick Bryant in South Korea says that as the international community is calling for tougher sanctions and North Korea is rejecting even existing ones, it is unlikely that the offer of returning to talks will be taken very seriously.French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a radio interview that an “explosion of limited size” had been detected on Monday when North Korea carried out the claimed test.The comments from Pyongyang came shortly after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that “information from contacts” suggested further testing may be imminent.The UN Security Council was due yesterday to continue debating a draft resolution of punitive sanctions proposed by the US.The US proposal includes halting trade in material that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction; inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea; a ban on imports of luxury goods and a ban on financial transactions used to support nuclear proliferation.There is agreement in the Security Council that North Korea should face punitive measures.BBC