Tensions in Asia: North Korea Claims a Nuclear Missile Test

The government's announcement raises tensions in the region

Monday, May 25, 2009

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Protestors participate in a rally against North Korea's nuclear missile test on May 25, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

North Korea is claiming it test fired a trio of nuclear missiles yesterday. Such claims haven't always turned out to be true, but there are indeed reports of seismic activity in the area. The official North Korea news agency said these explosions were more powerful than the previous tests in October 2006. The claimed tests are raising tensions in the region and Japan has already called for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation. For more we turn to the BBC's Jonathan Marcus.

"If North Korea is seen to be able to do this kind of thing with impunity than other countries around the world who are wanting to perhaps to develop their nuclear capabilities are going to take their cues from the North Koreans."
—The BBC's Jonathan Marcus on the global implications of North Korea's nuclear test

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