Berlin urges UN action against North Korean missile tests
Germany on Monday sharply condemned North Korea's latest nuclear test, calling it an "irresponsible provocation" that threatened regional stability.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the tests must be “absolutely condemned” and called for a “signal of unanimity” against North Korea from the United Nation’s Security Council.
“In our view, it violates resolutions passed by the UN Security Council and is likely to provoke further escalation of the situation in the region,” added foreign ministry spokesman Jens Plötner at a government news conference. “We strongly urge the North Korean government to refrain from such irresponsible provocations.”
Plötner said Germany expected the Security Council to hold an emergency session on the test Monday and express “the united stance of the international community.”
“The German government will continue to support all efforts that contribute to a peaceful resolution of the tense situation on the Korean peninsula,” said Plötner.
Pyongyang said it staged a second successful underground nuclear test Monday which was more powerful than its previous test in 2006, followed later by three apparent short-range missile launches.
It went ahead less than a month after first threatening a test in response to a US Security Council decision to tighten sanctions.
Germany has actively backed six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear arms and in January 2007 hosted meetings between the top US envoy on the issue and his Pyongyang counterpart.
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Chancellor Angela Merkel said the tests must be “absolutely condemned” and called for a “signal of unanimity” against North Korea from the United Nation’s Security Council.
“In our view, it violates resolutions passed by the UN Security Council and is likely to provoke further escalation of the situation in the region,” added foreign ministry spokesman Jens Plötner at a government news conference. “We strongly urge the North Korean government to refrain from such irresponsible provocations.”
Plötner said Germany expected the Security Council to hold an emergency session on the test Monday and express “the united stance of the international community.”
“The German government will continue to support all efforts that contribute to a peaceful resolution of the tense situation on the Korean peninsula,” said Plötner.
Pyongyang said it staged a second successful underground nuclear test Monday which was more powerful than its previous test in 2006, followed later by three apparent short-range missile launches.
It went ahead less than a month after first threatening a test in response to a US Security Council decision to tighten sanctions.
Germany has actively backed six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear arms and in January 2007 hosted meetings between the top US envoy on the issue and his Pyongyang counterpart.
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