North Korea says it has successfully carried out its first nuclear weapons test. The country's official Korean Central News Agency said the test was performed underground and that there had been no radioactive leakage from the site at Hwadaeri near Kilju at 10.36am (0136GMT) on Monday.
The agency said: "Our science research section has safely and successfully conducted an underground nuclear test.
"The nuclear test is a historic event that brought happiness to our military and people.
"The nuclear test will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region."
The South Korean intelligence services detected a 3.58-magnitude seismic tremor, a foreign ministry spokesman told the Reuters news agency.
The alleged test coincided with the ninth anniversary of the rise of Kim Jong-Il, North Korea's leader, to communist party chief.
The Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on a visit to South Korea, said Japan could not confirm whether the test had taken place and was still gathering information.
Roh Moo-hyun, the South Korean president, has convened a meeting of security advisers over the issue, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
The North said last week it would conduct a nuclear test as part of its deterrent against a possible US invasion.
The announcement sparked alarm in the region, particularly in Japan and Abe had just arrived in South Korea for talks on North Korea's nuclear plans.
Tony Chang, Aljazeera's Beijing bureau chief, said the announcement of the test was a surprise despite earlier government announcements.
"Is it clearly aimed to coincide with the Japan prime minister, Shinzo Abe's, trip to South Korea.
"It shows that China, who has been calling on North Korea to halt the test, doesn't necessarily have the power over the country that people think."
North Korea has long claimed to have nuclear weapons, but had never before performed a known test to prove its arsenal.
Agencies
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