"Grave Violation" "Highly Provocative" Nuclear Test In North Korea Concerns World

The Security Council and top United Nations officials have strongly condemned the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), warning that it constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

Site of nuclear test in North Korea

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Following an emergency closed-door session, the Council said the test is a “grave violation” of relevant resolutions adopted by the 15-member body.

“In line with this commitment and the gravity of this violation, the members of the Security Council will begin work immediately on appropriate measures in a Security Council resolution,” Kim Sung-hwan, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council for February, said in a statement read out to the press.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement issued by his spokesperson overnight, called Pyongyang’s action “deplorable,” and voiced concern at its impact on regional stability.

The White House called the North Korean nuclear test “a highly provocative act that, following its December 12 ballistic missile launch, undermines regional stability, violates North Korea’s obligations under numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions, contravenes its commitments under the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, and increases the risk of proliferation.  North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs constitute a threat to U.S. national security and to international peace and security. The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and steadfast in our defense commitments to allies in the region.

These provocations do not make North Korea more secure.  Far from achieving its stated goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation, North Korea has instead increasingly isolated and impoverished its people through its ill-advised pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.”

The danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community.  The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies. We will strengthen close coordination with allies and partners and work with our Six-Party partners, the United Nations Security Council, and other UN member states to pursue firm action.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, said that the  Security Council met “to discuss North Korea’s highly provocative nuclear test. Countries around the world, including every member of the Security Council, agreed that this test was an extremely regrettable act that further undermines international peace and security, as well as that of the region.

The nuclear test directly violates the DPRK’s obligations under several unanimous Security Council resolutions, including 1718, 1874, and 2087. Moreover, the test contravenes North Korea’s commitments under the September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and increases the risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

North Korea does not and will not benefit from violating international law. Far from achieving its stated goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation, the DPRK has instead increasingly isolated and impoverished its people through its ill-advised pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

North Korea’s continued work on its nuclear and missile programs seriously undermines regional and international peace and security and threatens the security of a number of countries, including the United States. When the Council responded to the last DPRK provocation and violation of its obligations, we said—and the Council said—that it was clearly committed in Resolution 2087 to take, and I quote, “significant action” in the event of any further launch using ballistic missile technology or another nuclear test. And indeed, we will do so.

To address the persistent danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities, the UN Security Council must and will deliver a swift, credible, and strong response by way of a Security Council resolution that further impedes the growth of DPRK’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and its ability to engage in proliferation activities. In the days ahead, we will consult closely with other Council members and concerned UN member states to pursue appropriate further action.

She took a couple quick questions on North Korea.

Reporter: Thank you very much. Ambassador Rice, what else can this resolution do that further—that might stop the North Koreans from acting?

Ambassador Rice: Well, as you may anticipate, we and others have a number of further measures that we will be discussing with Council members in various spheres that will not only tighten the existing measures but—we aim to augment the sanctions regime that is already quite strong as implemented in 1874 and 2087.

Reporter: With financial sanctions? Sanctions on the financial institutions? Anything more in significant action?

Ambassador Rice: All of those categories are areas that we think are ripe for appropriate further action.

Reporter: Madame ambassador, could you tell us your view—what is the difference between the past two times—past two nuclear tests—and this new nuclear test, both in the impact with the international community and the outcome (inaudible)?

Ambassador Rice: Well, North Korea continues to violate repeated Security Council resolutions and that in itself makes this different. It is a third test. We’ll await further information on the technical specifications of that test, but we will be interested to see whether in fact this indicates a difference in their success level or a difference in the quality of the test itself. Whatever the outcome, however, the international community—this Council—has been quite clear: The actions of North Korea are a threat to regional peace and security, international peace and security. And they are not acceptable, they will not be tolerated, and they will be met with North Korea’s increasing isolation and pressure under United Nations sanctions.

The seismic event detected in North Korea was the result of a third nuclear test, Pyongyang has confirmed. Seoul estimated the yield of the suspected nuclear device at 6 to 7 kilotons