Pope Francis concerned by North Korean nuclear tests

Vatican City, Sep 29, 2016 / 06:44 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis is troubled by the international tensions arising from recent North Korean nuclear tests, said Greg Burke, director of the Holy See Press Office this week.

“Responding to a question about the delicate situation on the Korean peninsula, I can confirm the concern of the Holy Father and the Holy See about the continuing tensions in the area on account of the nuclear tests carried out by North Korea,” Burke stated in a statement released Sept. 27.

This concern, he added, “was reiterated today by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, the Holy See’s Undersecretary for Relations with States” during a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency held in Vienna.

On Sept. 9, the communist country carried out its fifth nuclear test with an underground explosion, which was celebrated by their leader Kim Jong Un, who ignored the protests of the international community.

In March, the United Nations Security Council issued Resolution 2270, which included tough sanctions against North Korea after their fourth nuclear test, which they claimed to have carried out on January 6 this year.

Now, after the fifth test, the Security Council is preparing a new resolution to force Kim Jong Un to abandon the development of nuclear weapons.

Nevertheless, on Sept. 27 the South Korean Minister for Unification, Hong Yong-pyo, warned that “there are signs that Pionyang (North Korea) is preparing to carry out a new test of its nuclear weapons this year.”

According the Yonhap agency, the new test could occur on Oct. 10, when the communist regime celebrates the 71st anniversary of the foundation of the Korean Worker’s Party, a date which can be used as a pretext to carry out the sixth nuclear test or launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.