The decision to hold an emergency meeting comes only hours after various government agencies throughout the world, including that of China, reported detecting a temblor near the site of previous nuclear tests in the communist North.

   An official from South Korea's foreign ministry said the quake appeared to be "artificial," suggesting it could have been caused by what would be the North's fourth nuclear test.

   Since its first nuclear test in 2006, Pyongyang has conducted two additional nuclear tests, one in 2009 and the other in 2013, despite strong international opposition and various U.N. sanctions condemning them as provocations.

   The South Korean currency took another hit after it was rocked by the move by Beijing to devalue the yuan earlier in the day.

   The local currency tumbled to 1,196.50 won to the greenback as
of 11:43 a.m., down 8.5 won from the previous day.  

   Market watchers said that the dollar's rise slowed down after what may have been smoothing operations conducted by the authorities. (Yonhap)