Nuclear security

US sends its nuclear 'sniffer' plane on 'emergency sortie' in Korea amid fears of new nuke test by Kim Jong-un

A US nuclear 'sniffer' plane was sent out to the Korean Peninsula amid fears Kim Jong-un may have detonated a nuclear device.

The special purpose aircraft made an emergency sortie over the East Sea, according to reports.

A government source told Yonhap news: 'The WC-135 Constant Phoenix, a special-purpose U.S. plane, made an emergency sortie today over the East Sea.'

The plane is designed to test for radioactive debris following a nuclear explosion. It is not clear what the purpose of the mission was.

The plane was dispatched to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, earlier this month, and today's flight could indicate there are suspicions North Korea has set off a nuclear bomb.

Rumours, which remain unconfirmed, state that North Korea has told China of its intention to carry out  tests.