WORLD LEADERS have condemned a reported nuclear test by North Korea as the United Nations Security Council met in emergency session to discuss possible sanctions against the isolated dictatorship.
In a rare display of unity, all five permanent members of the security council condemned Pyongyang’s action as a serious breach of its UN commitments.
North Korean radio yesterday reported an underground nuclear test “on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology”. Russia said it had confirmed the test and estimated its yield as equivalent to the size of the nuclear bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the second World War.
Ahead of last night’s security council meeting, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply disturbed” that North Korea had flouted a UN resolution forbidding further nuclear testing.
“I sincerely hope that the security council will take necessary corresponding measures,” Mr Ban said.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana also denounced the test as a flagrant breach of security council resolutions.
“These irresponsible acts by North Korea warrant a firm response by the international community,” he said.
“The European Union will be in contact with its partners to discuss appropriate measures.”
Describing Pyongyang’s action as “reckless”, US president Barack Obama said the test posed a grave threat to the peace and security of the world. “North Korea’s actions endanger the people of northeast Asia, they are a blatant violation of international law, and they contradict North Korea’s own prior commitments,” he said.
“Now, the United States and the international community must take action in response. The record is clear: North Korea has previously committed to abandoning its nuclear programme. Instead of following through on that commitment it has chosen to ignore that commitment. These actions have also flown in the face of United Nations resolutions.”
Mr Obama noted with satisfaction that China had joined Russia, Japan and the western powers in condemning North Korea’s action. China waited a few hours after the other powers to condemn the nuclear test but its opposition to Pyongyang’s move was unequivocal.
“Disregarding the common objections of the international community, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has again tested a nuclear device. The Chinese government expresses that it is resolutely opposed to this,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
North Korea has been under UN sanctions that bar it from nuclear and ballistic activity since its first nuclear test in 2006. Last April Pyongyang claimed a rocket launch put a satellite into orbit but critics suggested that it was testing long-range missile technology.
North Korea then withdrew from six-party disarmament talks with the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. The negotiations had already stalled over Pyongyang’s failure to agree how information it has handed over on its nuclear activities and facilities should be verified.
Major nuclear powers have adhered to moratoriums on weapons testing in recent years, but India, Pakistan and North Korea all have tested bombs since the treaty was negotiated in the 1990s.
In 2007, when North Korea committed itself to ending nuclear development, the Bush administration removed it from its “axis of evil”.
Few western diplomats favour using military force against North Korea, which has a well-armed, million-strong army.