Military leaders from across the globe believe North Korea 's nuclear program poses "the most serious threat" to the Asia-Pacific region, officials said at a high-level meeting that ended Friday.

They also agreed on the need to enhance cooperation in maritime security operations against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, said Gen. Han Min-koo, chairman of South Korea 's Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS.

"Participating countries reached a consensus on the fact that the North Korean nuclear program presents the most serious threat to regional security," Han said at a news conference after the Chiefs of Defense gathering, which involved 26 countries.

U.S. Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, also said the threat from North Korea 's nuclear capabilities was "widely recognized as significant not just to South Korea but region as a whole."

"The next (nuclear) test (by North Korea ) would be a very serious matter for the international community and the Republic of Korea ( South Korea )," he said.

Chosun Ilbo , South Korea 's biggest-selling newspaper, said Thursday North Korea appeared to be preparing for a third nuclear test, citing an unidentified government source.

U.S. satellites had detected movements of personnel and vehicles at the site where the North carried out its first two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, it said.

However, South Korean government officials said there was no concrete evidence the communist state was readying such a test, saying Seoul and its allies are closely watching developments related to the North's nuclear facilities.

Another atomic weapons test by North Korea would be provocative, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday. He said he couldn't confirm reports Pyongyang was preparing for such a test.

The countries represented at the five-day defense meeting included the U.S. , Russia , the U.K. , France , Japan , India , Australia , New Zealand and Southeast Asian nations.
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