Defense Ministry Launches Crisis Team

South Korea's Defense Ministry launched a "crisis management" team of general-level officers Monday to deal with the latest North Korean nuclear test.

"The team will come up with measures to respond to the test," said Lee Bung-woo, a spokesman at the Ministry of National Defense, adding the military has yet to put its troops on heightened alert.

A three-star officer heads the team, which could be upgraded to an emergency meeting overseen by Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee, the official said.

President Lee Myung-bak called a meeting of top security and diplomatic officials at his office, Cheong Wa Dae, at 1:00 p.m., according to his aide.

Touting its underground test as "successful," North Korea confirmed through its official media that it has conducted an underground nuclear test.

North Korea conducted its first test in October 2006, a few months after it tested a long-range ballistic missile in defiance of international warnings.