Secretary-General ‘Unequivocally’ Condemns Nuclear Step Announced by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Demands End to Tests

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statement on the nuclear test announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in New York today:

The underground nuclear test announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 6 January is deeply troubling.  This test once again violates numerous Security Council resolutions despite the united call by the international community to cease such activities.  It is also a grave contravention of the international norm against nuclear testing.

This act is profoundly destabilizing for regional security and seriously undermines international non-proliferation efforts.  I condemn it unequivocally.  I demand the DPRK cease any further nuclear activities and meet its obligations for verifiable denuclearization.

We are monitoring and assessing developments in close coordination with the concerned international organizations — including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization — and interested parties.