Obama Blasts Nuke Test as ‘Reckless Challenge’

U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday called North Korea’s latest nuclear test “a direct and reckless challenge to the international community.”

“North Korea’s attempts to develop nuclear weapons as well as its ballistic missile program is a matter of grave concern to all nations and constitute a threat to international peace and security,” he said in a statement.

“North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community with the nuclear test, which is an outright violation of international law and U.N. sanctions. Such provocations will only serve to deepen North Korea’s isolation.”

He added, “The danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities warrants action by the international community. It will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.”

“We will continue working with our allies and partners in the six-party talks as well as other members of the U.N. Security Council in the days ahead.”

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Security Council will convene an emergency meeting at 2 p.m. Monday in New York on the nuclear test, according to Russian media. The meeting was scheduled at Japan’s request.

Prior to the announcement, South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, who was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting gathering of foreign ministers in Hanoi, Vietnam, held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone yesterday morning.

Yu and Nakasone agreed to support action by the Security Council against the test.

Yu also discussed possible responses with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, saying, “I also plan to closely discuss the matter with my counterparts from China and Russia in addition to Nakasone.”

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