(LEAD) S. Korea condemns N. Korean nuclear test as unpardonable provocation
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's 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 South Korean 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 that it has successfully conducted an underground nuclear test earlier Monday.
President Lee Myung-bak said he was disappointed with the North in the meeting and ordered complete readiness to counter any additional provocations from the communist nation, the presidential spokesman told 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.
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