http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6032525.stm

North Korea says it has carried out its first ever test of a nuclear weapon, the state news agency has reported.

It said the underground test, done in defiance of international warnings, was a success and had not resulted in any leak of radiation.

A South Korean official said an explosion had been detected in the north-east of North Korea, measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale.

North Korea said last week that it planned to test a nuclear weapon.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has called an emergency meeting of his government's National Security Council.

A South Korean official said that there had been a grave change in the security situation on the peninsula.

Officials in South Korea have been quoted as saying that an explosion was detected in north Hamgyong province in North Korea.

The region has been on high alert since North Korea said last week it would conduct a nuclear test.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has just arrived in Seoul for a meeting with Mr Roh, following talks on the crisis with his Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

At the Beijing summit, Japanese and Chinese leaders had earlier said that such a test would be considered "unacceptable".

From what I have read USGS seismologists have not detected a nuclear blast.

well if its only 3.5 richter USGS might have trouble detecting it easily?

Didnt they have trouble with the 2004 Tsunami (or was that only to warn people?)

I don't remember that.

But I remember this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUgjDkBdPDc

Here ya go - from the USGS

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/ustqab.php

Cladari

Ya, I got...
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=277404

China and Australia and USGS are reporting a small blast.

Anyone remember what a nuke test in some asian empire resulted in at the end of Canticle for Leibowitz?

It doesn't help that pretty much the entire world either outright hates the US or at the least wouldn't mind seeing the US get some come-upance. That was the gist of what I got from the "word on the street" as reported from South Korea and China.

The North Korea nuclear situation is not something the United States should over-react to. I know that U.S. media hypes up the anti-American elements of North Korean nuclear plans. There is a much bigger picture. A history lesson would serve American politicians well.

North Korea's immediate neighbors have much greater fears. Koreans have historically been mortal enemies of the Japanese and the Chinese. The Great Wall of China was built to keep out invaders, including Koreans. The North Korean hate of Americans is much shallower.

Let the Japanese, Chinese and South Koreans lead the issue, and support them politically and in the United Nations.

China is between a Great Wall and a hard place. They don't want NK destabilized because they're afraid of a flood of refuges, but they also don't want them having nukes.

We live in interesting times.

The North Korea nuclear situation is not something the United States should over-react to. I know that U.S. media hypes up the anti-American elements of North Korean nuclear plans. There is a much bigger picture. A history lesson would serve American politicians well.

North Korea's immediate neighbors have much greater fears. Koreans have historically been mortal enemies of the Japanese and the Chinese. The Great Wall of China was built to keep out invaders, including Koreans. The North Korean hate of Americans is much shallower.

Let the Japanese, Chinese and South Koreans lead the issue, and support them politically and in the United Nations.

In the case of Japan, it would require them changing their constitution since it relies on the US for protection. The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security means the US is involved if Japan is involved.

The real danger is with nuclear proliferation. If NK has nukes and the means to launch them on Japan, You may very well see japan developing nukes, and it would be fast. They have plenty of stockpiled plutonium.

China is very concerned too. NK would like to justify aquiring the technology to protect them selves from bullies like the US. If that is accepted internationally as reasonable what is to stop Tiawan from doing the same thing. That definately not something China would like to see happen.

The prime minister elect for Japan ran on a platform which included amending the Japanese constitution to permit pre-emptive attack and a policy of considering North Korean nuclear ambitions as a direct threat and provocation for war.

The US will be a player in this, but N. Korea falls within the Chinese sphere of influence and they will be the major player. However, they have already called for punishment for NK.