South Korean President

Two die in protests after South Korean president removed from office

The statement, which called the casualties regrettable, added that several people were injured at the protests.

Earlier Friday, Park's presidency ended after a Constitutional Court upheld a December impeachment by South Korean lawmakers.

South Koreans, both supporters and opponents of the former leader, took to the streets by the thousands in emotional, sometimes violent scenes.

North Korea conducts 'fifth and biggest nuclear test'

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called it an act of "self-destruction" which showed the "maniacal recklessness" of leader Kim Jong-un.

It was detected as a 5.3 magnitude quake close to the nuclear test site.

The North has not commented, but analysts fear this could be a sign of the rogue state's nuclear progress.

Previous artificial earthquakes in the same area and of that magnitude have all been nuclear tests.