Nth Korea Nuclear Test Serious Security Challenge

DPR Korea: Nuclear Test ‘Serious Security Challenge’ For World, Says UN Atomic Chief

The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency today voiced deep regret and serious concern over the reported nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying it created serious security challenges for the international community.

“The breaking of a de-facto global moratorium on nuclear explosive testing that has been in place for nearly a decade and the addition of a new State with nuclear weapon capacity is a clear setback to international commitments to move towards nuclear disarmament,” UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei declared in a statement.

“This reported nuclear test threatens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and creates serious security challenges not only for the East Asian region but also for the international community,” he added.

On Friday the UN Security Council warned the DPRK of unspecified action if it went ahead with a nuclear test, saying such a test would represent a clear threat to international peace and security.

Dr. ElBaradei reiterated the urgent need, “more than any time before,” for establishing a legally binding universal ban on nuclear testing through the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty.

He stressed the importance of finding a negotiated solution to the current situation regarding the DPRK nuclear issue and called for a resumption of dialogue between all concerned parties as “indispensable and urgent.”

Six-Party talks between China, DPRK, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States have been going on sporadically in Beijing for several years.

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