Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Berlin raps "provocative" North Korean nuclear test

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Berlin, May 25, IRNA - German Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner here Monday criticized North Korea's latest nuclear test, branding it an "irresponsible provocation."

Speaking to the press in Berlin, Ploetner stressed the test was a "clear violation of existing UN Security Council Resolutions" and posed a threat to the stability of the Korean peninsula.

The spokesperson urged Pyongyang to refrain from such "irresponsible provocations" in the future.

Ploetner added Germany expected the UN Security Council to debate the latest North Korean developments later in the day and approve a new resolution.

He pledged his country's full support for all actions aimed at a peaceful solution of the crisis.

Ploetner did not rule out the possibility that North Korea's envoy would be summoned to the German Foreign Ministry over Pyongyang's nuclear actions.

The test conducted Monday came on the heels of North Korea's April 5 test-firing of a long-range missile.

North Korea pulled out of international talks geared at abandoning its nuclear weapons program after the UN Security Council condemned the launch which was regarded by western countries as an alleged cover for a ballistic missile test.