North Korea is believed to have carried out its fifth and largest ever test of a nuclear device, say South Korean military officials.
It comes after an "artificial" magnitude 5.3 earthquake was detected close to its nuclear test site on Friday morning,
Previous artificial earthquakes in the same area and of that magnitude have all been nuclear tests.
There has been no comment from the North as yet.
In a statement carried by the Yonhap news agency, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said: "We estimate the North has carried out the biggest-ever test."
It said the yield was estimated to have been 10 kilotonnes, almost twice the power of its last test in January. At that time the North said it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, but many analysts cast doubt on that claim.
Japan's meteorological agency said seismic activity was "different than in a normal quake"
The US Geological Survey, which monitors global seismic activity, said the tremor had been detected in the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the north-east and was caused by "an explosion".
It said it could "cannot determine what type of explosion it may be, whether nuclear or any other possible type".
Recent satellite imagery has shown increased activity at the site, indicating a fifth test could be imminent.
Friday is also North Korea's National Day, which celebrates the founding of the current regime. The North often uses such events as an opportunity for a show of military strength.
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