UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet in an emergency meeting on a nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday morning, diplomatic sources told Xinhua Monday night.

The emergency council session is expected to begin at 9:00 am EST(1400 GMT) on Tuesday, the sources said.

The council meeting was called by South Korea, which holds the rotating council presidency for February, said the sources.

DPRK's KCNA news agency confirmed that the DPRK has successfully conducted a third nuclear test to safeguard its national security against U.S. hostile policy.

Pyongyang conducted similar nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.