North Korea 'plans to conduct nuclear test'

 North Korea has said it planned to carry out a third nuclear test and more rocket launches aimed at its "arch-enemy" the US, two days after the UN condemned its rocket launch.

 

"We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are targeted at the United States," North Korea's National Defence Commission said on Thursday.
In a statement carried by state news agency KCNA, the National Defence Commission in Pyongyang threatened to wage a "full-fledged confrontation" against the US for what it called continued hostility.

 

The declaration follows the UN Security Council's condemnation of North Korea on Tuesday and expanded sanctions against the regime for launching a rocket in December.

  

North Korea said the launch was a peaceful satellite mission, but the US and others say it was actually a test of long-range missile technology.

Pyongyang is believed by South Korea and other observers to be "technically ready" for a third nuclear test, and the decision to go ahead rests with Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader.

Kim had authorised the previous rocket launch in defiance of UN sanctions last month.