International reactions to the 2006 North Korean nuclear test

North Korea and weapons
of mass destruction

Events Missile tests 1993 2006 2009 2013 2014 2016 Nuclear tests 2006 (reactions) 2009 (reactions) 2013 (reactions) January 2016 (reactions) September 2016 (reactions) See also Korean People's Army Korean People's Army Strategic Force Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site Ryanggang explosion Songun Yongbyon

International reactions to the 2006 North Korean nuclear test were nearly unanimous in their condemnation and denunciation of the test.

Africa

•  Egypt: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed its concern over the test and called for all parties to exercise restraint and to return to the Six Party Talks.^[1]
•  South Africa: The Government of the Republic of South Africa stated that it was "deeply concerned" by the tests and called upon North Korea to terminate its nuclear weapons programme.^[2]

Asia

•  Afghanistan: The Afghan Foreign Ministry expressed its "profound concern and disapproval" of North Korea's actions and viewed the test as a provocative act. Afghanistan called for the resumption of negotiations.^[3]
•  Cambodia: The Cambodian Information Minister has stated that Cambodia opposes North Korea's decision to conduct its first nuclear weapons test and has asked other nations to react diplomatically to the situation. It added that the United States should officially declare that it will not invade North Korea.^[4]
•  People's Republic of China: The Chinese Foreign Ministry released an official televised statement, also reported in the official news agency Xinhua, "The DPRK ignored universal opposition of the international community and flagrantly conducted the nuclear test. The Chinese government is resolutely opposed to it."^[5][6]
•  India: The Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that they "are deeply concerned at the reported nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". The statement also said that India was "monitoring the situation" and in close contact with several unspecified nations over the issue.^[7]
•  Indonesia: The government of Indonesia, in a Foreign Ministry statement, "reiterates its position that the recent nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is unacceptable under any justifiable reason". Indonesia condemned North Korea over its announced test and fears that "such a move would add to regional tensions and threaten stability".^[8]
•  Iran: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini stated, "Iran's position is clear and Iran on principle believes in a world free of nuclear weapons".^[9] An unnamed person speaking on an unnamed Iranian "state radio" stated that "North Korea's nuclear test was a reaction to America's threats and humiliation."^[10][11] The Islamic Republic spokesman wanted "the big powers start disarmament from themselves."^[12]
•  Israel: A government official said the test shows a "strong joint international effort is needed to stop Iran from obtaining a bomb."^[13]
•  Japan: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, who was in Seoul for talks on the nuclear crisis,^[14] said information still needed to be analyzed to determine whether North Korea truly conducted the test. Abe later called for a "calm yet stern response."^[15] Kyodo News agency reported that the Japanese government has set up a taskforce in response to reports of the test.^[15] Abe later said the tests were "absolutely unacceptable." Later, on that same day, the Japanese Cabinet passed a resolution banning almost all trade with North Korea^[16]
•  Kazakhstan: Yershan Ashikbayev, a spokesman for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, urged North Korea to "resume the six-nation talks on its nuclear program that include China, Russia, the U.S, South Korea and Japan, and to abandon its nuclear ambitions," because "these actions will deepen the crisis in the non-proliferation sphere and will seriously harm global security."^[17]
•  South Korea: President Roh Moo-hyun has convened an urgent meeting of advisors, according to Yonhap news agency. The South Korean seismic monitoring center has confirmed a 3.58 magnitude tremor at the time of the test.^[18] The South Korean military has also since raised its alert level.^[19] On October 10 however, South Korean Prime Minister Han Myung-Sook told Parliament that South Korea will not support any United Nations resolution containing military measures against North Korea in retaliation for its nuclear test.^[20]
•  Malaysia: In a statement, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that the test was a serious setback in keeping the world free from nuclear weapons. He also said Malaysia calls on the DPRK to cease developing nuclear weapons and return to the moratorium on nuclear testing.^[21] Earlier, he had said Malaysia would not support any action by the United Nations as North Korea has suffered enough and that even though Malaysia sympathised with North Korea, the only way ahead was to resume dialogue. He urged Russia and China to put pressure on North Korea to return to the six party talks.^[22]
•  Mongolia: According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia deeply regrets North Korea's actions, despite international warnings beforehand. Mongolia supports a denuclearized Korean peninsula and calls upon the North Korean authorities to take no further actions that will worsen the situation.^[23]
•    Nepal: The Nepalese Foreign Ministry declared its grave concern and views the test as unfortunate and uncalled for. The ministry reiterated Nepal's strong opposition to nuclear proliferation.^[24]
•  Pakistan: A spokeswoman for the Pakistani foreign office stated that "It is regrettable that [North Korea] chose to ignore the advice by the international community not to conduct the test."^[25]
•  Philippines: President Arroyo condemned the tests, calling it a threat to the economic and political stability of East Asia. She also mentioned that it undermined several treaties, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1965, the principles of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum and the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement on the Denuclearizarion of the Korean Peninsula. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo called on North Korean leaders to return to the talks at once. He also denounced the tests as a threat to the peace and security of Asia.^[26] During a national security meeting, National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzales warned that a nuclear-armed North Korea is a concern for Philippine external security. President Arroyo did voice out similar concerns that North Korea has placed the entire nation at risk.^[27]
•  Singapore: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore called the nuclear test "a rash and dangerously provocative act".^[28]
•  Republic of China: Michel Lu, a spokesman with the Foreign ministry said that the government of the Republic of China "fears the nuclear test might trigger an arms race and proliferation of nuclear weapons, thus undermining the security and welfare of people in the Northeast Asian region".^[29]
•  Thailand: In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Government "deplores" the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK government and "deeply regrets" that North Korea "chose to ignore" the international community's warnings. Thailand calls upon North Korea to abide by the principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. The statement also urged all sides to exercise restraint and to resume negotiations.^[30]
•  Vietnam: Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Dzung expressed the Vietnamese Government's grave concern over the test, stating that it will heighten tensions and threaten the region's stability. He stated that Vietnam supports the "denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula.^[31]

Central America & the Caribbean

•  Cuba: The government of Cuba has issued statements of facts concerning the test, indicating the unanimity of the condemnation by the international community, but has not yet issued a statement of its own views on the tests.
•  Guatemala: The Guatemalan Government condemned the North Korean nuclear test and expressed its grave concern over the matter.^[32]

Europe

•  Albania: The Albanian Government expressed its deep concern about the test and iterated its support for whatever action the UN Security Council decides to take in response.^[33]
•  Belarus: Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Popov stated that his government believes the situation arose from an unwillingness on the part of nuclear powers to disarm themselves and that it was unrealistic to expect non-nuclear states to not develop their own deterrent when threatened by states with such arms. Belarus called upon the states concerned to return to negotiations.^[34]
•  Belgium: Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said the test demonstrates North Korea "...behaving in a totally irresponsible manner." He called the detonation a provocation and called for a "firm response" from the UN Security Council.^[35]
•  Bulgaria: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria condemned the North Korean nuclear test in a declaration of 9 October, calling it a "provocative act" and a "threat to international peace and security". Bulgaria also called for clear and categorical international measures and expressed its continued support for all parties interested in finding a solution to the North Korean nuclear program problem.^[36]
•  Croatia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia issued a press release in which it expressed its great concern over the test and urged the return of the states concerned to the Six Party Talks.^[37]
•  Czech Republic: The Czech Republic Foreign Ministry declared the test to be a "irresponsible and regrettable step." The Ministry called upon the DPRK authorities to return to negotiations.^[38]
•  Denmark: Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement that "I strongly condemn North Korea's execution of a nuclear test explosion. It is an irresponsible action and directly contrary to the international community's repeated requests to North Korea ... It must be made clear that the international community will not accept a North Korea with nuclear arms."^[39]
•  Finland: Finland, as the country holding the EU presidency, strongly condemns the test and points out that the act is in violation of UN security council resolution 1965 and the denuclearization declaration of 1991.^[40]
•  France: French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has condemned the tests, saying they are "a very grave act for international security."^[41]
•  Germany: German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the test "jeopardises peace and security in the region and beyond. [The test pushes North Korea] further down the wrong path, to self-imposed isolation.".^[42]
•  Greece: Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis said that "Greece condemns such a provocative action, which contravenes the Nuclear Arms Non-Proliferation Treaty, ignores UN Security Council resolution 1695 and constitutes a threat to international stability, security and peace,"^[43]
•  Iceland: The Icelandic government sent a statement to the North Korean government where they condemned the test. Both the Icelandic prime minister Geir H. Haarde and foreign minister Valgerður Sverrisdóttir condemned the test. Valgerður said that "no one believed that North Korea would go this far and now the UN Security Council must decide what actions they can use in order to follow through with their previous statements about North Korea."^[44]
•  Ireland: Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern strongly condemned the test, describing it as a threat to regional security and "...in direct contravention of the objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation." He further called upon the DPRK to refrain from further tests and to return to the Six-Party Talks.^[45]
•  Italy: Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema condemned the test, stressing the wider global security implications. He further called upon North Korea to resume fulfillment of its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and to return to the Six-Party Talks.^[46]
•  Latvia: The Latvian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the test and urged a return of all concerned parties to negotiations.^[47]
•  Lithuania: Lithuania expressed its "great concern" at the news of North Korea's nuclear test and condemned it as an act that endangers global security and peace. The Foreign Ministry expressed its agreement with the international community that negotiations resume.^[48]
•  Luxembourg: The Grand Ducal Government of Luxembourg expressed its despair over the test and hoped for the resumption of dialogue and negotiations.^[49]
•  Netherlands: Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot condemned the test, stating that North Korea cannot expect to receive food and humanitarian aid so long as it wastes money on these kinds of projects.^[50]
•  Norway: Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that Norway's reaction to the North Korean nuclear test was that they condemned it, and pleaded for the case to be brought to the UN Security Council. He also said that they warned about the matter weeks before the test, even to North Korean UN diplomats, and that their nuclear test is a dangerous escalation, as the other nuclear powers had agreed not to detonate nuclear weapons.^[51]
•  Poland: Poland as member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in Korea expressed "its deepest concern and disappointment at the decision of North Korean authorities" and called the authorities of DPRK "for an immediate return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to create conditions that will enable the restoration of the presence of the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in its territory.^[52]
•  Romania: The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared in a 9 October press release that Romania noted the test with "great concern" and deemed it "unacceptable"; it "firmly condemned" Pyongyang's "grave act of provocation". Romania called on North Korea "to immediately cease measures and acts of proliferation and to sincerely and actively engage in six-party negotiations".^[53]
•  Russia: Russian president Vladimir Putin said at the customary Monday meeting with Cabinet members that “Russia unconditionally condemns the test made by the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea. It is not only North Korea that really counts, but the tremendous harm caused to the regime of WMD non-proliferation in the world.”^[54] First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov declared that the nuclear test was a "colossal blow to the NPT" because the North had become the "de facto ninth nuclear power" but he insisted that the issue had to be resolved within the context of the Six Party Talks. First deputy chairman of the State Duma’s Committee on Security Mikhail Grishankov warned that the North’s nuclear tests could threaten Russia, which did not need another nuclear power along its borders.
•  Serbia: The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the test to be "an act jeopardizing regional stability and efforts by the international community to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in this part of the world."^[55]
•  Slovenia: The Republic of Slovenia condemned North Korea's nuclear test and warned of possible international tensions resulting from the test. Slovenia urged the resumption of the Six Party Talks.^[56]
•  Spain: Foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos has said that the test is a "serious provocation".^[57]
•  Sweden: Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt stated that "... this is an extraordinarily serious development, with consequences both for stability in East Asia and for efforts to combat the global proliferation of nuclear weapons." and that "...a test of this kind means both a deliberate and a serious provocation targeted against the entire international community."^[58]
•   Switzerland: The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs announced that "Switzerland condemns the test as counter to international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world and as a threat to the security of the region."^[59] They will also support any United Nations Sanctions against North Korea.^[60]
•  Ukraine: The Foreign Ministry condemned North Korea's test, insisting that Pyongyang take responsibility and cease all nuclear program-related activities immediately.^[61]
•  United Kingdom: The British Foreign Office released a statement soon after the test in which the test was described as "a highly provocative act" which would "raise tensions in an already tense region." Prime Minister Tony Blair has also said that the test was a "completely irresponsible act".^[42]

North America

United States President George W. Bush delivers a statement on North Korea from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.

•  Canada: In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper used sharp language on Monday to condemn the test, calling it an "irresponsible and dangerous act." He warned that it seriously undermines both regional peace and stability, and global efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. However, Mr. Harper said Canada will continue to work with the United Nations Security Council to address what he terms “the risks to Northeast Asia and beyond caused by the North Korean nuclear test." Foreign Minister Peter MacKay expressed concern, stating "It's premature in terms of what the formal reaction will be, but we view this matter as extremely serious."^[62]
•  United States: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said the USA would go to the UN to determine "what our next steps should be in response to this very serious step."^[63] In a Presidential statement the morning following the announcement, President Bush said that North Korea's test is a "provocative act" which the US condemns and the USA is "committed to diplomacy" but will "continue to protect [the U.S.] and [U.S.] interests."^[64] President Bush has also stated that the United States "reserves all options" to defend itself against aggression.^[65]
•  Mexico: The Mexican Government expressed that it is "deeply concerned" by the test. It "respectfully" calls on the North Korean government to desist from further testing and to return to negotiations.^[66]

Oceania

•  Australia: Prime Minister John Howard and Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer condemned North Korea's actions during parliamentary question time. Howard said that North Korea should be condemned in the strongest possible terms for undertaking a nuclear test, and that Australia will press for United Nations sanctions against North Korea.^[67]
•  New Zealand: Prime Minister Helen Clark in a statement said that, "North Korea should have no illusion of the gravity with which the international community views its action." While Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters described North Korea's actions as "unpardonable and irrational," he also stated that "this is a time for cool heads and we urge all parties to refrain from acts which may add to a further deterioration of the situation."^[68]

South America

•  Argentina: César Mayoral, Argentine ambassador to the United Nations, issued a strong condemnation of the nuclear test, and urged the Security Council to "act firmly against the North Korean government and its intentions to obtain weapons of mass destruction". It is worth mentioning that, while Argentina supports the development of nuclear energy for peaceful means, the country is also a strong advocate of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and other non-proliferation efforts worldwide.^[69]
•  Brazil: The Brazilian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in its communication to the press, expressed that the Brazilian Government vehemently condemns North Korea's nuclear test, urges the country to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and return to the six-party talks as soon as possible to solve the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula.^[70]
•  Chile: Chile's Ministry for Foreign Affairs has said, through an official press communicate, that this nuclear test represents "a serious attack against regional and worldwide stability" as well as "a violation of international community's efforts to achieve denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula". Chilean government has officially requested North Korea to refrain from performing these tests since they are "an unnecessary provocation that disrupts world peace and safety".^[71]
•  Colombia: The Government of Colombia issued a statement through the Ministry of Exterior Relations in which it condemned the tests and called upon the DPRK government to observe the principles of peaceful coexistence found in the Charter of the United Nations and to return to the Six-Party Talks.^[72]
•  Ecuador: The Foreign Ministry of Ecuador laments North Korea's nuclear test and called upon that country to respect the widely held international moratorium on nuclear testing.^[73]
•  Peru:The government criticized that the test took place at the margin of international regulations of nonproliferation and verification and that it did so in spite of the calls conducted by the international community against the North Korean government. According to an official notice issued by the Peruvian ministry of foreign affairs, "This is a serious event, that violates the effective moratorium for nuclear tests, constitutes a threat to international peace and security and aggravates the tensions in the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeastern Pacific." The note also remarked that, "as a state member of the Security Council, the Government of Peru considers that, in accordance with the Chart of the United Nations, this situation must be examined through the existing multilateral mechanisms". Peru urged North Korea to unconditionally return to the Six-Party Talks and to suspend all activity related to its nuclear program and also reiterated its "firm commitment with non-proliferation efforts, and the suitable mechanisms for the promotion of the strategic stability, international peace and security".
•  Uruguay: According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Relations, the Eastern Republic of Uruguay "rejects" and "deplores" North Korea's nuclear test, calling it a threat to peace in Northeast Asia and insisted that the North Korean government return to negotiations.^[74]
•  Venezuela: Venezuela's foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro told state television, "We condemn all nuclear tests because of the immense damage it does to the environment, to life." Maduro also added, "We are making an effort in all the world's scenarios so that those countries that have nuclear weapons begin progressively eliminating them." The report reproducing the aforementioned official statement notes that while Venezuela supports a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons, at the same time they believe that countries should be free to pursue nuclear energy peacefully."^[63]

Multinational organisations

• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission: On 9 October, Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) said in his statement “Such an action goes against the letter and the spirit of the [CTBT], which I continue to hope that the [DPRK] will sign and ratify.”^[75] Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, then Chairperson of the CTBTO, stated that the test and DPRK’s activities “constitute a threat to international peace and security and deserve universal condemnation.”^[76] On 13 October, CTBTO held in Vienna a Special Session where its 176 Member States at the time were briefed on the data and analyses they had been receiving from the CTBTO in the previous days.^[77]
•  European Union: The European Union presidency said in a statement that "This test profoundly jeopardises regional stability and represents a severe threat to international peace and security."^[78] Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the Commissioner for External Relations, stated that the EU has no plans to cut humanitarian aid to North Korea but stressed that the tests were "unacceptable". She also reiterated calls by the EU Presidency for North Korea to return to the six-nation talks and halt all testing of nuclear devices.^[79]
• International Atomic Energy Agency: The IAEA issued a statement saying that the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei "deeply regrets, and expresses serious concern, about the reported carrying-out of a nuclear test earlier today by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," and that it "threatens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and creates serious security challenges not only for the East Asian region but also for the international community." ElBaradei emphasised the affront caused by violating the de facto worldwide ban against nuclear testing which had existed for almost a decade before the North Korean test, and emphasised the need for all countries to enter into the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.^[80]
•  NATO: The NATO military alliance published a statement saying that it "condemns in the strongest terms possible the North Korean nuclear weapon test. This test poses an extremely serious threat to peace and security in the Pacific region and the world."^[81] The alliance wants North Korea to return to the six-party talks.
•  United Nations: The United Nations Security Council met on Monday, October 9 in New York City on an emergency session to discuss the issue. All five veto-wielding permanent members, including China, once North Korea's most supportive neighbour, condemned the nuclear test.^[15] Wang Guangya, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations had earlier stated that "no one is going to protect North Korea" if it engages in "bad behaviour". However, on October 10, dissensions emerged within the Council over how exactly to tackle the problem. Japan and the United States pressed for sanctions with the threat of military action with U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations John Bolton stating that while the United States had a “clear preference” for a diplomatic solution, the threat of force was on the table. Chinese President Hu Jintao however, called for the United States to "avoid actions that may lead to escalation or loss of control of the situation".^[82]

Non-governmental organisations

• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament: On October 3, upon the announcement that a test was imminent, the CND called on North Korea and other nuclear states to eliminate their nuclear weapons, declaring that all nuclear weapon states were irresponsible. Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "There is no such thing as a 'responsible nuclear weapons state' as North Korea claims."^[83]

References