Italian FM condemns DPRK's nuclear test

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D' Alema condemned the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday and expressed concern about the consequences, Italian News Agency ANSA reported.

Referring to the test as an unacceptable provocation, D'Alema urged Pyongyang to abandon its military nuclear program and to comply with the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Italy sees a response by the United Nations Security Council as inevitable, the foreign ministry statement said.

The Security Council on Friday urged the DPRK not to carry out a test, warning Pyongyang of unspecified consequences if it did.

The council condemned the test on Monday and promised that " appropriate measures" would be decided soon.

The DPRK announced early Monday that it had "safely and successfully" carried out an underground nuclear test. The announcement coincided with a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to South Korea.

The European Union said the test "seriously compromises stability in the region" and said it would work with the international community to find a suitable response.

Source: Xinhua