North Korea Conducts Successful Nuclear Test

After months of waiting, the North Koreans finally did what they threatened to do... conduct a nuclear test.

Apparently, the test was conducted underground at approximately 10:36AM (1:36AM GMT) in Hwaderi near Kilju city, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Senior U.S. officials said the United States is consulting with allies around the world and would push for sanctions Monday at a 9:30AM meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York.

South Korea's defense ministry has raised their military alert level.

According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, the force of the blast was 5 to 15 kilotons, equivalent to the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

China was given a 20-minute warning ahead of the test and in turn passed the information along to the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

In light of this, here's a graphic on the range of North Korea's missles:

As you can see, half of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii will be under threat.

The US Geological Survey registered a 4.2 seismic event

The preliminary earthquake report is available.

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Full text of the nuclear test announcement carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA):

"The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 (2006) at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.

"It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under a scientific consideration and careful calculation.

"The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 percent. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA (Korean People's Army) and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability.

"It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the area around it."

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Many nations have condemned the NK nuke test

CNN: List of Nations Condemning the Test

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According to confidential sources, US ambassador John Bolton told the Security Council that a North Korean attack on South Korea or Japan will be treated as an attack on the United States.

North Korea's ambassador Pak Gil Yon remained defiant, saying the Security Council should congratulate the country for its nuclear test instead of passing "useless" resolutions or statements.