South Korea warns of stern response to North's n-threat

South Korea Thursday warned North Korea, saying that it would face a stern response from the international community if it conducts another nuclear test.

If North Korea "takes such actions as the threat of nuclear test that worsens situations further, it will face a stern response from the international community as the action obviously violates the UN Security Council's resolution", Xinhua reported citing a statement by South Korea's foreign ministry.

The ministry urged North Korea to take concrete actions in accordance with the resolution passed Tuesday by the Third Committee of the 69th UN General Assembly.

It said South Korea would prepare for all possibilities by closely cooperating with the international community, including countries participating in the six-party talks, to prevent the North Korea from conducting another nuclear test.

The six-party talks aim to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns as a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons programme. There has been a series of meetings with six participating states -- North Korea, South Korea, US, China, Japan and Russia.

The statement came after the North Korea's foreign ministry indicated a new detonation of its atomic bombs to counter "US hostile policy" towards the country.

The North Korea said in a statement that it was compelled by US hostility "not to exercise restraint any longer in conducting a new nuclear test" and that its "war deterrence will grow stronger".

Pyongyang rejected the UN resolution on the country's human rights that recommends the Security Council refer the North Korea to the International Criminal Court.

The resolution followed a report released in February by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the North Korea. The report raised concerns over alleged abuses of human rights in the country.