North Korea nuclear test warning
Updated on 03 July 2009
North Korea may be about to carry out another nuclear test, the British ambassador in Pyongyang has said.
North Korea carried out a nuclear test in May - a move that experts said put it closer to having a working nuclear bomb.
"We cannot rule out that a further nuclear test will take place," said Peter Hughes, the British ambassador to North Korea.
"Yesterday, two short-range missiles were launched and you'll have seen reports that there may be a launch of an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) in the coming days or weeks," he said.
North Korea's rocket launch in April was widely seen as a disguised long-range missile test that violated UN resolutions banning it from ballistic missile launches.
It test-fired short-range missiles on Thursday. Officials and news reports in South Korea said four short-range missiles had been fired.
Last month, the United Nations Security Council approved wider sanctions against North Korea over the nuclear test, banning all weapons exports from the hermit state and most arms imports.
Mr Hughes said North Korea's response to British concerns over its recent actions had been that "the threat towards their country is intensifying and they have no other option but to strengthen their deterrent".
"I have seen no willingness on their part to re-engage in negotiations whatsoever," he said.
But he said Britain hoped that "sanctions, together with the wider framework of measures, ... will put sufficient pressure on the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to reconsider its position on negotiations".
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