Jin Dae-woong - South Korean and U.S. militaries went onto a high state of alert today after North Korea conducted a nuclear test despite warnings from the international community.

The South Korean intelligence agency said today it detected 3.58-magnitude seismic tremor in Hwadae, North Hamgyeong Province at 10:35 am. North Korea confirmed the underground test around noon, saying it was successful.

Hwadae is one of the North's missile launch sites located near Gilju which was considered one of the most likely places for the nuclear test.

The Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff today activated respective emergency taskforces to cope with the North's provocations, military officials said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff directed the military to enhance the level of military preparedness against the North at 11:30 am, they said. But the military still maintains a Watchcon 3 surveillance status and Defcon 4 defense readiness status as in usual defense situations.

The South Korean military is under close coordination with U.S. Forces Korea in analyzing detailed information to decide whether the communist regime actually carried out a nuclear test, the JCS said.

If the joint investigation determines the North's nuclear test actually took place, the South Korean military could take additional measures to raise its readiness status, the JCS added.

When military tensions rise the status us usually increased. In case of war, they will be raised to Watchcon 1 and Defcon 1.

South Korea first raised the conditions in June 1999 since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, when a naval skirmish between the South and North Korea took place. South Korean forces were put on a Watchcon 2 surveillance status and Defcon 3 defense posture.

The Japanese government also activated a taskforce in response to reports of the North Korean nuclear test.

Nordkorea hat erfolgreich Atombombe getestet