North Korea: Largest nuclear test to date conducted, causing strong earthquake

Seismic activity was recorded on Friday in the area of North Korea where the isolated communist country conducts nuclear weapons tests, and it is believed that Pyongyang carried out its fifth nuclear test, world media reported, according to the Patria News Agency. 

American, European, and Chinese seismological services confirmed that the ground tremor occurred at 3 AM GMT at ground level. The Chinese Earthquake Center announced that the ground tremor is suspected to have been caused by an explosion.

A South Korean official said it is believed to be a nuclear test, adding that a session of the South Korean National Security Council has been convened, Yonhap agency reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that North Korean nuclear tests cannot be tolerated. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a formal protest with Pyongyang, and the military dispatched two planes to measure radiation, Reuters reported.

The Yonhap agency reported that a seismic event of magnitude 5.3 suggests that a 10-kiloton nuclear bomb exploded, which would be the most powerful nuclear bomb ever produced by North Korea.