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　　North Korea Faces Condemnation Over FifthNuclear Test

　　The United States and its allies are reacting to NorthKorea's latest nuclear test.

　　The test, carried out on September 9th, was thecountry's second nuclear test this year.

　　Some reports say the North Korean government may already be planning more testing.

　　Last Friday, North Korea said it exploded a nuclear device underground. It was the country'sfifth nuclear test since 2006. Measurements showed the explosion was stronger than NorthKorea's four earlier nuclear tests.

　　A South Korean Defense Ministry official said, "With regards to (the) possibility of North Korea'sadditional nuclear test, South Korea and U.S. intelligence assess that it is always ready toconduct an additional nuclear test."

　　South Korean leader seeks unity

　　South Korea's president, Park Geun-hye, held an emergency meeting with political leaders onMonday. She met with representatives of her Saenuri Party and the two main oppositionparties, the Minjoo Party and the People's Party.

　　Park urged unity in reacting to North Korea's actions.

　　South Korea is working with the U.S., Japan and other countries to press for increasedsanctions on North Korea in the United Nations Security Council. The council has alreadyapproved a number of measures aimed at punishing the North for its nuclear activities.

　　New proposals could expand the list of products barred for export to the country. They couldalso expand restrictions on North Korean individuals and organizations tied to the North'smilitary or weapons programs.

　　Sung Kim is the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy. He said the U.S.government is working with America's allies to form a response. He said they are consideringunilateral, bilateral and trilateral measures against North Korea. Kim met with Japanese officialson Sunday.

　　The U.S. government also has called on China to do more to pressure North Korea to give upits nuclear and its missile programs.

　　China's support considered very important

　　Existing sanctions by the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. and South Korea have hurt NorthKorea economically. Those measures target trade, shipping and finance.

　　China's cooperation on sanctions is considered important because most North Korean tradeflows to or through China.

　　Chinese officials have called on North Korea not to take steps they consider provocative.However, China's reaction has been limited.

　　Daniel Pinkston is a Northeast Asia expert with Troy University in Seoul. He says China isunwilling to impose measures that could cause the collapse of the North Korean government.

　　Pinkston said, "I think they will keep the lifeline in place for North Korea."

　　On Monday, China's foreign ministry said sanctions alone cannot solve the nuclear issue. It alsosaid unilateral action will not be productive.

　　North Korea has intensified its nuclear and missile testing. In addition to its nuclear tests, thecountry has launched more than 20 medium- or long-range missiles.

　　Yet, North Korea faces problems feeding its population. And the U.N. agency for humanitarianaffairs reported Monday that flooding in the northern part of the country has killed more than130 people. More than 100,000 have fled their homes, the agency said.

　　Late last week, President Barack Obama condemned the latest North Korean nuclear test. Hecalled it "a grave threat to regional security and to international peace and stability."

　　I'm Mario Ritter.