25-05-09 North Korea Tests Second Nuclear Device, Fires Short-Range Missiles

Korea made its second test of a nuclear explosive on Monday and declared it was more destructive than the first,an advance that is likely to embolden Kim Jong Il's regime in rebuffing calls by the U.S. and others to halt its weapons program.The country also launched three short-range missiles,including one from the same site from which it fired a long-range missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean seven weeks ago.The actions show that the U.S. and other countries that for years have tried to persuade North Korea to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons remain unable to get Pyongyang to bend to their will.North Korea's detonation of a nuclear device is being taken more seriously by the international community than its long-range missile test of April 5,which Pyongyang defended as a satellite launch.Leaders of several countries, including the U.S.,U.K.,South Korea and Japan,immediately condemned Monday's actions.President Barack Obama,in a statement,called the action a "matter of grave concern to all nations" and said North Korea was undermining stability in northeast Asia."It will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," he said