WASHINGTON, United States - The latest nuclear test by North Korea early in the day will have serious consequences, U.S. President Barack Obama warned Friday.
In a White House statement, Obama called the nuclear test a "provocation" and reiterated that the U.S. was committed to the security of its allies in Asia and throughout the world.
Obama also spoke on the telephone with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after National Security Advisor Susan Rice briefed him on the seismic activity detected in North Korea.
At 9.30 am Seoul time on Friday, a 5-magnitude artificial earthquake was detected near the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site in North Korea, which the Kim regime confirmed later as its fifth nuclear test.
Obama will continue holding discussions with U.S. allies and partners over the next few days to address North Korea's provocative actions, the statement added.