BRITAIN last night condemned a nuclear weapon test carried out in secretive North Korea, which Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned will undermine the prospects for peace in the region.
The underground explosion, in the north east of the country, was carried out early yesterday, and is reported to have been many times larger than a previous test in 2006.
The move will significantly ratchet up international tension over the nuclear and missile ambitions of the Pyongyang regime, which was censured by the United Nations for a rocket launch on April 5.
US president Barack Obama said last night a nuclear test constituted an act of “blatant defiance” of the UN Security Council and a violation of international law.
In a statement issued by 10 Downing Street, Mr Brown said: “I condemn North Korea’s nuclear test in the strongest terms as erroneous, misguided and a danger to the world. This act will undermine prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula and will do nothing for North Korea’s security.
“The international community will treat North Korea as a partner if it behaves responsibly. If it does not, then it can expect only renewed isolation.”
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement: ``North Korea's nuclear test earlier today is wrong, misguided and dangerous. The test is a clear breach of Security Council Resolutions.
“In the face of united multilateral attempts to bring peace and security to the Korean peninsula, this will leave North Korea even more isolated and scorned by the international community.
“The test is a provocation that will prevent others from dealing with North Korea as a responsible partner.
“North Korea’s international obligations are clear – the UK will be consulting its international partners, including on the Security Council, as we decide a united response.”
The nuclear test was initially detected by seismologists monitoring evidence of earthquakes – the Japan Meteorological Agency measured the seismic activity at magnitude 5.3 – and was later confirmed by Pyongyang’s official news agency.
The state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said that the regime “successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25, as part of measures to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence”.
The regime also test-fired a short-range ground-to-air missile from the same site in the north east of the country as last month’s controversial rocket launch, according to reports from the Yonhap news agency, in South Korea.
The April 5 launch was widely seen as a cover for testing of long-range missile technology.
