North Korea thumbed its nose at the world this week, conducting a 6-7 kiloton nuclear test Tuesday that rattled seismographs to a 4.9 level.

The epicenter of the nuclear test, authorities report, was about one kilometer below the Earth’s surface, close to a known North Korean nuclear test site.  The U.S. Geological survey says no damage has been observed.  “We’ve been informed by the South Koreans that there’s been a nuclear test, said a United Nations Security Council diplomat.

An international agency that monitors tests says the location was “roughly congruent” with earlier tests in 2006 and 2008, complete with “clear explosion-like characteristics”.  North Korea has made no response to discussion about the test.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket last December in violation of United Nations resolutions that banned it from developing missile or nuclear technology.  Those restrictions were placed after the 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.  Now, North Korea reportedly is preparing for yet another nuclear test.

• 
• NO DATA