Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Ban deplores DPR Korea's underground nuclear test

25 May 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly deplored the conduct of an underground nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in “clear and grave” violation of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council which is set to hold emergency talks on the matter today.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned that this act will negatively affect regional peace and stability as well as the global nuclear non-proliferation regime,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

Mr. Ban “trusts that the Security Council will take up this matter to send out a strong and unified message, conducive to achieving the goal of de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula and peace and security in the region,” the statement added.

Discussions in the Council are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and will be chaired by Russia, which holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member body for the month of May.

Following DPRK's claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October 2006, the Council had demanded that it “not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile” and imposed sanctions against the country.

Most recently, both Mr. Ban and the Council spoke out after the East Asian nation, against strong international appeals, carried out rocket launches.

They also called for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, involving DPRK, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

In today's statement, Mr. Ban urged DPRK to refrain from taking further actions that would increase tensions in the region, and insisted that the country comply with its obligations and restart dialogue with the parties concerned without delay.