Taiwan condemns North Korea's nuclear test

ROC Central News Agency

2016/09/09 21:13:10

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) Taiwan condemned a nuclear test conducted by North Korea on Friday, calling it a provocative move and criticizing the Communist regime for disregarding the United Nations Security Council resolutions and ignoring the international society's call for it not to do so.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement that after North Korea's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 in Punggye-ri of Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, Pyongyang carried out a fifth nuclear test at 9:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. Taipei time) Friday in the same area.

The Republic of China government, again, expressed its grave concerns and condemnation, the statement said.

The ROC government condemned Pyongyang for its repeated disregard of the five resolutions the UN Security Council has adopted since 2006 that impose and strengthen sanctions on North Korea for continuing to develop its nuclear weapons program, and its ignoring the international society's dissuasion, the statement added.

The MOFA said the ROC government has always taken the stance that it supports the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the region. Therefore, it calls for the North Korean authorities to abide by the UN resolutions, and immediately stop any action that will harm regional security.

The ROC government reiterated its support for the idea that all the countries concerned should resolve the Korean Peninsula issue through peaceful dialogue, and jointly maintain peace and stability on the peninsula and in the East Asian region, the statement said.

North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, respectively in the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

(By Tang Pei-chun and Elizabeth Hsu)
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