North Korea Threatens 'New Form' of Nuke Test

Having tried out mid-range ballistic missiles in recent weeks, North Korea said today it may conduct a "new form" of nuclear test, the New York Times reports. Pyongyang officials didn't clarify, but the US and its allies have long thought North Korea wants to build small, sophisticated nuclear devices that can ride piggyback on its new missiles. A spokesman for South Korea's foreign ministry said North Korea "will have to pay a price" if it ignores international concerns and carries out the test.

For its part, North Korea accused the UN of "turning a blind eye" to "US madcap nuclear war exercises" while denouncing North Korea's, Reuters reports. North Korea also said it wants the ability to hit medium- and long-range targets "with a variety of striking power." Tensions between North and South Korea eased last month, when elderly people separated by the Korean War were allowed short reunions, but the North has since returned to harsh rhetoric—and a paper by a nuclear expert cited the "disquieting possibility" that North Korea is building a network of tunnels to carry out regular nuclear tests with highly enriched uranium. (More North Korea stories.)