President Park Geun-hye has warned that if North Korea goes ahead with a nuclear test, it will be an unacceptable, grave provocation that compromises the security of Northeast Asia.
 
On her state visit to Iran early next week, the president ordered officials to convene the National Security Council immediately in the event the North conducts a nuclear test and escalates security fears. She directed the NSC to focus on national security and public safety and maintain defense readiness.
 
She urged the military to step up monitoring for any signs of a nuclear test and maintain readiness to immediately respond to a provocation by the North. 
 
President Park said the North's fifth nuclear test would be a flagrant challenge to the international community as the regime has been placed under unprecedentedly stringent global sanctions following its fourth nuclear test in January.
 
She said the situation will be completely different this time compared to the aftermath of the North's past nuclear tests conducted in a three-year cycle.
 
Park also said that it appears Pyongyang's intention for another nuclear test is to gain nuclear power status from the international community and solidify its regime domestically. She said the global community will never acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear power.