UPDATE 2- NKorea confirms nuke test, Seoul says biggest ever

UPDATES WITH CONFIRMATION

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - North Korea conducted a fifth ever nuclear test Friday morning, described by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff as the reclusive state’s “biggest-ever” with a yield reaching 10 kilotons.

The amount is almost double what Pyongyang claimed was a hydrogen bomb earlier this year.

South Korea’s military detected a magnitude 5.3 earthquake at around 9.30 a.m. (0130GMT) close to the Punggye-ri site where North Korea carried out its previous four tests since 2006.

January’s fourth test drew the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) strongest ever punitive measures against the North, which is barred from developing nuclear and ballistic missile technology.

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station reported that the country would “continue to strengthen our capacity to bolster nuclear force" in the face of American aggression, with nearly 30,000 United States troops stationed in South Korea alone.

The allies swiftly agreed to use “all means available” in response to the test, with respective leaders Park Geun-hye and Barack Obama speaking over the phone.

Park’s office revealed that Washington reaffirmed the availability of its nuclear umbrella if needed, and the South Korean president vowed to seek “much stronger sanctions.”

Yet March’s move by the U.N. Security Council did not dissuade North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, who this week demanded more “miraculous” nuclear achievements when overseeing a triple ballistic missile test.

Friday marked the 68th anniversary of the North’s establishment, and Pyongyang’s efforts appear to be gathering pace after Kim cemented his dual policy of pursuing economic and nuclear development.

Concerns have been growing particularly about North Korea’s developing ability to both miniaturize warheads and launch missiles from submarines.

Monday’s latest ballistic missile launches were met with a UNSC statement of condemnation warning of “further significant measures”.

Analysts generally view the influence of the North’s old ally China as offering a degree of protection from any punishment that could cause the collapse of Pyongyang’s regime.