海角大神

Despite strong international opposition, even from ally and benefactor China, North Korea on Tuesday tested its third nuclear device, prompting an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

The test appears to show an increase in North Korea鈥檚 nuclear capability and is likely to further isolate the Pyongyang regime. Analysts say that hopes for improved relations with the new governments in Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, or even Beijing are now on hold 鈥� at least for the time being.

鈥淭his is meant to get the attention of South Korea, the US, Japan and 鈥� dare I say it 鈥� China. With leadership transitions going on in all those countries this is a particularly appeasement-prone time,鈥� says Sung-yoon Lee, assistant professor of Korean Studies at Tufts University in Boston. 鈥淣one of those countries want a foreign policy crisis at the moment and will be more likely to resort to damage-control diplomacy.鈥�

The US Geological Survey detected unusual seismic activity slightly north of the site of North Korea鈥檚 2009 test, just before noon local time. The activity observed was inconsistent with that of a natural earthquake.

North Korea later confirmed the test.

"The test was conducted in a safe and perfect way on a high level with the use of a smaller and light A-bomb, unlike the previous ones, yet with great explosive power,鈥� said an English-language dispatch from the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea鈥檚 official state broadcaster. If true, this concerns the international community because it indicates the country may be getting closer to the ability to put a nuclear device on a missile.

The blast had a magnitude of 4.9 with an estimated yield of between 6 and 7 kilotons, which is larger than North Korea鈥檚 2009 test 鈥� itself聽 an increase over its first test in 2006. North Korea is apparently seeking to develop lighter weapons that can travel farther. However, it is still believed to be far from developing a nuclear warhead that could reach the US.

This test was apparently directed at the US, which North Korea still considers its sworn enemy. The KCNA report stated that 鈥渢he test was to defend our country鈥檚 safety and sovereignty against the US鈥檚 aggressive behavior that infringed upon our republic鈥檚 lawful right to peacefully launch a satellite.鈥�

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Monday that Seoul and Washington were given advance notice that the test was to be carried out on Tuesday.

[Editor's note: The original version of this story misstated which governments were alerted ahead of time.]

South Korea immediately condemned the launch, calling it an unacceptable threat and a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions. China expressed 鈥渇irm opposition,鈥� reflecting Beijing鈥檚 growing frustration with North Korea鈥檚 provocative behavior. US President Obama called it a 鈥渉ighly provocative act鈥� that threatens international peace and pledged to defend the US and its allies, which include South Korea.

Since 2009, despite having a young, Western-educated leader take over, North Korea has maintained its position as combative and withdrawn from the international community, continuing an old cycle of provocations and increased international sanctions. In December, impoverished North Korea successfully launched a long-range rocket that led to expanded UN sanctions.

The latest test, which the North indicated was a response to those sanctions, will likely only mean more sanctions for North Korea from the international community, though some analysts question their value at this point, despite the fact that the food shortages and economic difficulties caused by sanctions have not changed North Korea鈥檚 behavior on controversial issues such as its nuclear program and human rights record.

鈥淥ver the last 20 years, the international community has used sanctions and pressure when it comes to North Korea, but we鈥檝e seen that those methods on their own cannot stop North Korea鈥檚 nuclear program,鈥� says Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul鈥檚 University of North Korean Studies.