YONHAP NEWS

(3rd LD) S. Korea condemns N. Korean nuclear test as unpardonable provocation

   By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government on Monday issued a statement strongly denouncing North Korea's latest nuclear test as a "serious threat and challenge" to the international community.

   The statement read by presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan in a news conference also vowed to call on the United Nations Security Council to take strong countermeasures to punish the communist nation.

   "The nuclear test is a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and a serious challenge to the international regime on nuclear non-proliferation," said the statement.

   The statement came at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Security Council that followed Pyongyang's announcement saying it had successfully conducted an underground nuclear test earlier Monday.

   President Lee Myung-bak said in the meeting that he is disappointed with the North and ordered complete readiness to counter any additional provocations from the communist nation, the spokesman said in the press conference.

   "The government will work closely with other members of six-party talks, such as the United States, Japan, China and Russia, and the international community to make sure the United Nations Security Council takes proper measures," the statement said.

   The six-party talks, also attended by the two Koreas, are multilateral negotiations aimed at denuclearizing the communist North.

   Seoul noted Monday's nuclear test was a serious violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 that was adopted shortly after the North's first nuclear test in October 2006 to ban any further nuclear or missile activities by Pyongyang.

   "The government urges North Korea to abandon all its plans and activities related to nuclear weapons and immediately return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty regime and fulfill all international rules as a responsible member of the international community," the government statement said.

   In a phone call Monday, President Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso agreed to take joint efforts for a stern and unified response by the international community, according to Lee's spokesman.

   The South Korean president also plans to hold telephone talks with other foreign heads of state to discuss concerted countermeasures against the second North Korean nuclear test, he said.

   Spokesman Lee also said the North appears to have notified the United States of its planned nuclear test in advance.

   North Korea reportedly gave advance notice to China, a diplomatic source in Beijing told reporters, refusing to give further details.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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