Brussels, 09/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 October, the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance condemned the nuclear test carried out by North Korea. “We condemn the nuclear test in the strongest possible words” as it is “unacceptable” and represents a “threat for the international community”, said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer after the meeting of the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the North Atlantic Council (NAC). The NATO secretary general called for an end to such tests and urged Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table. High Representative Javier Solana also condemned this “threat to global security and stability” and said a “clear but calm reaction” was needed from the international community.
In a statement on behalf of the European Union, the Finnish EU Presidency “strongly condemns the test of a nuclear explosive device by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)”. It goes on to say: “Defying the Security Council statement of 6 October 2006 and the calls of the international community, this test profoundly jeopardizes regional stability and represents a severe threat to international peace and security. It is a flagrant breach of the December 1991 North-South Denuclearisation Declaration. Furthermore, it conflicts completely with the UN Security Council Resolution 1695 unanimously adopted after the launch by the DPRK of ballistic missiles, which underlined the need for the DPRK to show restraint and refrain from any action that might aggravate tension. The Presidency strongly urges the DPRK to announce immediately that it will refrain from any further tests of a nuclear device, publicly renounce nuclear weapons and return immediately and without preconditions to the Six-Party Talks and work towards implementation of the Joint Statement of September 2005, and, in particular, to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes. The EU also urges the DPRK to return to compliance with the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards obligations. The EU further calls on the DPRK to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty”.
In a press release the president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell declared “By proceeding with these tests, North Korea has demonstrated its desire to ignore the appeals of the international community for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. This is a threat to international security and the system of non-proliferation supported by the European Union and the whole of the international community. In October 2005, the European Parliament “exhorted” North Korea to adhere to the NPT and reconsider its decision to withdraw from the negotiations of the Six and allow for a resumption of negotiations in view of finding a peaceful solution to the current crisis. Today, this event makes the situation extremely worrying and the European Parliament is urging the Security Council of the United Nations to respond to it swiftly and firmly”. (oj)