OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2009. The Central Telegraph Agency of Korea (KNCA) has announced that an underground nuclear test has been carried out in the DPRK, which is borne out by data of Russian competent services.

Such actions by the DPRK can only be regarded as a violation of UNSC resolution 1718, which demands among other things that Pyongyang should not conduct nuclear tests. Recall that this resolution was adopted under article 41 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter and is binding upon all member states of the Organization without exception.

The DPRK’s nuclear test is a serious blow to international efforts aimed at reinforcing the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and undermines the international norm prohibiting such tests that is established by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The latest DPRK moves are provoking an escalation of tension in Northeast Asia, and threatening security and stability in the region. While recognizing the lawful concerns of the DPRK, we perceive no realistic alternative to ensuring its security other than on politico-diplomatic lines, through the creation of appropriate regional institutions involving all concerned parties.

We call upon our DPRK partners to show a responsible approach proceeding from the interests of maintaining stability in the region, the sustainability of the WMD nonproliferation regime, respect and observance of the decisions of the UN Security Council. As before, we presume that the Korean Peninsula nuclear problem can only be solved in the framework of the six-party negotiation process.