North Korea plans nuclear test

South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young has expressed regret at the North's threat of conducting a nuclear test, Yonhap news agency reports.

A US special envoy warned against North Korea conducting further missile and nuclear tests just minutes before the Pyongyang's announcement, Yonhap news agency reports.

Glyn Davies, the US special envoy on North Korea policy, was speaking to reporters in South Korea's capital Seoul when he said:

North Korea's declaration they would undertake a nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches follows the United Nations Security Council's condemnation of the country on Tuesday.

The UN expanded sanctions against the regime for launching a rocket in December.

North Korea said the launch was a peaceful satellite mission, but the US and others said it was a test of long-range missile technology.

North Korea plans to undertake a third nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches which will be targeted at its "enemy" the United States, its Defence Commission was quoted as saying by the country's state news agency.

North Korea's top military body said:

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