William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, has “strongly condemned” a nuclear test carried out by North Korea today, calling it a “violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Mr Hague’s comments came as the reclusive communist state confirmed it had successfully conducted a third underground nuclear test, defying UN orders to stop building atomic weapons. Mr Hague said: “North Korea’s development of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities poses a threat to international and regional security. Its repeated provocations only serve to increase regional tension, and hinder the prospects for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Mr Hague said UN resolutions committed the security council to taking “significant action” in the event of a further launch or nuclear test by North Korea. “The UK will begin urgent consultations with security council partners calling for a robust response to this latest development,” he said.
“North Korea has a choice to make – it can either engage constructively with the international community, cease developing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and return to negotiations, or face increasing isolation and further action by the security council and the international community.”