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(LEAD) S. Korean troops on heightened alert after N. Korean nuke test
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea placed its troops on a heightened alert and stepped up its guard against North Korea on Monday after the communist neighbor said it conducted a second nuclear test of "a new higher level," defense officials said.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it postponed this week's three-day workshop of over 400 general-grade officers, ordering them to return to their posts and stay on guard at least until next week.
The Ministry of National Defense launched a "crisis management" team of senior commanders, headed by a three-star officer, ministry spokesman Lee Bung-woo said.
"The team will come up with measures to respond to the test," he said.
Touting the underground detonation as "successful," North Korea confirmed through its official media that it conducted its second nuclear test since October 2006.
Pyongyang had recently threatened to conduct more nuclear and missile tests, decrying the U.N. Security Council's condemnation of its April 5 rocket launch.
In reponse to the test, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called a meeting of top security and diplomatic officials at his office, Cheong Wa Dae.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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