Bush condemns DPRK nuclear test, demands U.N. action

U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday that the United States condemns the claimed nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and demands immediate U.N. Security Council action.

"Such a claim itself constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The United States condemns this provocative act," Bush said in a statement.

Bush said he has held conversations with leaders of China, South Korea, Russia and Japan. "We reaffirm our commitment to a nuclear-free Korea peninsula, and all of us agree that the proclaimed actions taken by North Korea (DPRK) are unacceptable and deserve an immediate response by the United Nations Security Council," Bush said.

Bush also sternly warned the DPRK not to spread nuclear weapons or material to other countries. "The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable (for) the consequences of such action," he said.

While voicing commitment to diplomacy, Bush said the United States will continue to "protect ourselves and our interests."

"I reaffirmed to our allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan, that the United States will reach the full range of our deterrent and security commitments," Bush added.

Earlier on Monday, White House spokesman Tony Snow termed the DPRK's claimed nuclear test "a provocative act", and called on the U.N. Security Council to take immediate action.

A DPRK nuclear test "would constitute a provocative act, in defiance of the will of the international community and of our call to refrain from actions that would aggravate tensions in North East Asia. We expect the Security Council to take immediate action to respond to this unprovoked act," Snow said in a statement.

"The United States is closely monitoring the situation and reaffirms its commitment to protect and defend our allies in the region," Snow said.

However, both Bush and his chief spokesman stopped short of confirming the DPRK nuclear test. "We're working to confirm North Korea's claim," Bush said.

The U.S. reaction came after the DPRK claimed that it had successfully set off its first nuclear test.

According to a report by the Washington Post, the DPRK nuclear test appeared timed to coincide with the ninth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's appointment as head of the Korean Workers' Party.

Moreover the test alters the balance of power in Northeast Asia and touches off grave new concerns about the proliferation of refined nuclear material or devices to other states or groups, the report said.

Source: Xinhua