South Korea confirms North Korea conducted nuclear test

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South Korea confirmed North Korea has conducted a nuclear test on Tuesday at its known atomic test site near the east coast and urged Pyongyang to drop its nuclear programme.

"North Korea is confirmed to have conducted a nuclear test," said Chun Yung-woo, national security advisor to South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak. "It is a direct challenge to the international community and an unforgivable threat to peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia."