UN council concerned about DPRK's possible nuclear test

The UN Security Council held closed consultations on the stated intention of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to carry out a nuclear test, and considered to voice their serious concern through a presidential statement, the Council president said Wednesday.

Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan, Council president for October, told reporters after the meeting that the 15-member body would meet at the expert level later Wednesday to discuss issuing a formal statement.

The council experts were to consider a draft statement prepared by Japan, urging the DPRK "not to undertake such a test and to refrain from any action that might aggravate tension, and to continue to work on the resolution of non-proliferation concerns through political and diplomatic efforts."

The statement, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua, also urged the DPRK to return immediately to the six-party talks without precondition, and to work towards the expeditious implementation of Joint Statement on Sept. 19, 2005.

It also warned that if the DPRK ignores the calls of the international community, the Council will "act consistent with its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations."

Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters after the meeting that all Council members are concerned about the announcement of the DPRK.

"Everybody is unanimous," he said, stressing that all council members support the idea that "the six-party talks (should) be the main channel to address the issue".

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters shortly after the meeting that he is "very much surprised" to hear his U.S. counterpart John Bolton say there is division in the Council.

"I think it is sending very wrong impression if we start speaking division even before we have the chance to look the text (of the draft statement)," he said.

According to a UN diplomat, who said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, a furious quarrel broke out at the closed meeting between Churkin and Bolton.

Churkin even suggested to the United States holding direct talks with the DPRK on the nuclear issue so as to ease the current tension.

Bolton told reporters after the closed consultation that "at this stage, there's division."

"We cannot simply respond with a piece of paper," Bolton added. "I fear that if we do not have a strong response now to this clear signal from the North Koreans ... that they will misread the council."

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Foreign Ministry, the DPRK said that "the field of scientific research of DPRK will in the future conduct a nuclear test under the condition where safety is firmly guaranteed," the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

But the statement did not give a specific date or location of the upcoming test.

Source: Xinhua