In a rare joint statement, deputy defense ministers from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan urged North Korea to call off plans for a third nuclear test.

{Lim Gwan-bin, Deputy Minister for Policy
South Korean Ministry of National Defense}
"If North Korea conducts an additional provocation, including a nuclear test, it should take full responsibility for the consequences it may face for disregarding the international community's resolution."

The three countries said they believe that all that's needed now for the nuclear test to go forward.. is a green light from the leadership in Pyongyang.

{Lim Gwan-bin, Deputy Minister for Policy
S. Korean Ministry of National Defense}
"The three parties together believe Pyongyang will most likely conduct the nuclear test."

The countries also addressed concerns about the North's ballistic missile program, which it said threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, and agreed to work in coordination with China and Russia to prevent further provocations by Pyongyang.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff has elevated the security posture at military bases near the inter-Korean border, and, as the New York Times reported Thursday, the U.S. has deployed reconnaissance planes carrying nuclear detection devices to its base in Okinawa, Japan.

China on Thursday heightened its pressure on the North to refrain from any activity that would prevent the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

{Choi You-sun, yschoi@arirang.co.kr}
If the Kim Jong-un regime does carry out the highly-anticipated test, the U.S. and its allies are expected to push for a much stronger resolution and sanctions against the country to further cut North Korea off from financial resources it uses for its nuclear and missile development.

Choi You-sun, Arirang News.

Reporter : yschoi@arirang.co.kr