DPRK's nuke test draws strong condemnation

Russia calls on all interested parties to return to dialogue

The latest nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has continued to arouse strong condemnation by countries and international organizations alike, which called for addressing the new provocation and resuming dialogue to solve problems.

Pyongyang on Sunday detonated a hydrogen bomb capable of being carried by an intercontinental ballistic missile, the sixth nuclear test it has undertaken, running counter to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

The test was reportedly conducted at the order of top leader Kim Jong-un.

US President Donald Trump called the words and actions of the DPRK "very hostile and dangerous" to his country.

In a number of tweets, Trump said the DPRK "has become a great threat".

In a tweet on Sunday, he said Washington is considering stopping "all trade" with any country doing business with Pyongyang.

The Russian Foreign Ministry voiced "deep concern" over the test, saying that it "deserves the strongest condemnation".

The test of a thermonuclear explosive device for an ICBM violated the requirements of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the norms of international law, the ministry said in a statement.

"It is regrettable that the DPRK leadership, through its actions aimed at undermining the global nonproliferation regime, poses a serious threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region as a whole," it said.

Continuation of such a line is fraught with serious consequences for the DPRK itself, it warned.

"It is imperative to remain calm and refrain from any actions that lead to further escalation of tension," it said.

The Russian ministry called on all interested parties to immediately return to dialogue and negotiations, which is the only possible way to solve the Korean Peninsula problems.

"We reaffirm our readiness for joint efforts in this direction, including in the context of the implementation of the Russian-Chinese road map," it said.

Following the nuclear test, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the UN Security Council and the European Union to react.

"The international community must address this new provocation with the utmost firmness in order to induce the DPRK to unconditionally resume dialogue and to proceed with the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of its nuclear and ballistic programs," the Elysee Palace said.

The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged the DPRK to "abandon nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and immediately cease all related activities."

The UN nuclear watchdog stressed that the DPRK completely disregarded the repeated demands of the international community.

"Today's nuclear test by the DPRK is an extremely regrettable act," said Yukiya Amano, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in a news release on Sunday.

"I strongly urge the DPRK to fully implement all relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the IAEA," Amano said.

Xinhua

(China Daily 09/05/2017 page16)