U.S. President Barack Obama has condemned North Korea's latest nuclear test, and vowed to seek possible new sanctions against Pyonyang.
Obama's remarks on September 9 were the latest condemnation from world leaders and came just hours after North Korea said its test would allow it to finally build, "at will," stronger, smaller, and lighter nuclear weapons.
The U.S. president said in a statement that he had consulted with the leaders of Japan and South Korea after being informed of the test, first detected by seismic monitors.
It was the country's fifth atomic test and second in eight months.
"To be clear, the United States does not, and never will, accept North Korea as a nuclear state," Obama said.
He said additional "significant" steps, including new sanctions, would be discussed at the UN Security Council.
The West, the United Nations, and others have imposed several rounds of sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear and missile programs in recent years, to little effect.