Washington: Traces of radioactivity have been detected in North Korea following Pyongyang's claimed nuclear test five days ago, US officials said late on Friday.
“There is a preliminary analysis that suggests that the event in North Korea was consistent with a nuclear explosion,'' a US official said late on Friday.
Although US intelligence officials assigned an 80 per cent probability that Monday's explosion was a nuclear detonation, no final determination had been made.
"The United States is working to confirm North Korea's claim, but this claim itself constitutes a threat to international peace and stability," Bush said.
The findings are based on air samples collected on Wednesday, but additional sampling may be conducted.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said analysis of the explosion would continue. "They still think the analysis that they're doing will take another day or two," he said.
Meanwhile, Japan and the five veto-wielding powers - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - are expected to meet on Saturday to discuss a resolution on sanctions for North Korea before the full 15-member council convenes to discuss last-minute objections voiced by Russia and China, which could delay the vote.
Also, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed she is to visit Asia on Tuesday to hold talks on implementing the proposed sanctions.
