North Korea, as the only country to have performed nuclear tests in the XXI century, continues to challenge the international community with serious, repeated and ongoing violations of international law. These nuclear tests are an intolerable provocation which presents a direct challenge against the international community.
The advancement of the North Korean nuclear and ballistic programs, including the development and testing of ballistic missiles of intercontinental range, increasingly poses new levels of threat of a grave nature to international peace and stability and the non-proliferation regime. The latest nuclear test, given the magnitude of the explosion, has raised the challenge to an unprecedented level.
North Korea must immediately and fully comply with all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and abandon all nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
We stand ready to further strengthen measures aimed at achieving these objectives and strongly call on the UN Security Council to meet its responsibilities and to work towards the adoption of a new and effective resolution that includes stronger measures. We appeal to the international community to redouble its efforts to ensure the sustained, comprehensive and thorough implementation of relevant UNSCRs and ensure that North Korea reverts to international legality.
