Military heads from all over the world believe that North Korea's nuclear capabilities are "the most serious threat" to Asia Pacific, officials said during a high-profile meeting that concluded on Friday.
General Han Min-Koo, the chairperson of South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the military leaders at the meeting also agreed to enhance collaboration in maritime security campaign against the development of WMDs (weapons of mass destruction).
"Participating countries reached a consensus on the fact that the North Korean nuclear programme presents the most serious threat to regional security," Han told a press conference after the meeting of Chiefs of Defence from 26 nations.
Admiral Robert Willard, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet, said that the risk from North Korea's nuclear program was "widely recognised as significant not just to South Korea but region as a whole".
"The next (nuclear) test (by North Korea) would be a very serious matter for the international community and the Republic of Korea (South Korea)", Willard warned.
South Korea's largest selling newspaper "Chosun Ilbo" claimed on Thursday that the North seems to be planning new nuclear tests, quoting a government source.
US satellites also detected activity at the location where the previous two nuclear tests were carried out in 2006 and 2009, according to the newspaper.
But
the government of South Korea said that there is not enough evidence to
suggest that North Korea was preparing for a nuclear test, claiming that
Seoul and its international partners are closely monitoring
developments concerning the North's nuclear capabilities.
