International Reactions To The 2006 North Korean Nuclear Test - Asia

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.
• 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.
• 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."
• 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.
• 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".
• 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". 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." The Islamic Republic spokesman wanted "the big powers start disarmament from themselves."
• Israel: A government official said the test shows a "strong joint international effort is needed to stop Iran from obtaining a bomb."
• Japan: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, who was in Seoul for talks on the nuclear crisis, 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." Kyodo News agency reported that the Japanese government has set up a taskforce in response to reports of the test. 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
• 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."
• 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. The South Korean military has also since raised its alert level. 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.
• 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. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pakistan: A spokeswoman for the Pakistani foreign office stated that "It is regrettable that chose to ignore the advice by the international community not to conduct the test."
• 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 back to the talks at once. He also denounced the tests as a threat to the peace and security of Asia. 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.
• Singapore: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore called the nuclear test "a rash and dangerously provocative act".
• 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".
• 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.
• 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.